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Independence Day
Burkina Faso

Independence Day 2024, 2025 and 2026 in Burkina Faso

In Burkina Faso, every 5 August is Independence Day to commemorate the country’s full independence from the French Empire on that day in 1960.

YearDateDayHoliday
20245 AugMonIndependence Day
20255 AugTueIndependence Day
20265 AugWedIndependence Day
Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates.

The region now constituting Burkina Faso was ruled by the Mossi Empire during the 1800’s, but France conquered their capital city, Ouagadougou, in 1901 and soon took the whole area. In 1919, the colony of Upper Volta was established.

In subsequent years Upper Volta was merged into other colonies and then again separated several times, but it came to permanently remain, with present-day borders, in 1947. Later, it was renamed Burkina Faso.

After World War II, the independence movement gained steam in Burkina Faso and in all French Africa. After an initial period of greater self-rule within the French Empire, Burkina Faso gained complete independence on 5 August, 1960.

Previous Years

YearDateDayHoliday
20235 AugSatIndependence Day
20225 AugFriIndependence Day
20215 AugThuIndependence Day
20205 AugWedIndependence Day
20195 AugMonIndependence Day
20185 AugSunIndependence Day
6 AugMonIndependence Day Holiday
20175 AugSatIndependence Day