Joseph Conombo

He served as prime minister until the military coup led by Saye Zerbo that overthrew the government of President Sangoulé Lamizana. Conombo died on 20 December 2008 at the age of 91.

• Office — Prime Minister of Upper Volta • President — Sangoulé Lamizana • Term End — 1980 11 25 • Term Start — 1978 07 07 • Predecessor — Sangoulé Lamizana • Successor — Saye Zerbo • Birth Name — Joseph Issoufou Conombo • Born — 9 February 1917 • Birthplace — Kombissiri Department, Upper Volta • Died — 20 December 2008

Born on 9 February 1917 in Tampinko in a farming family, he studied medicine and obtained his doctor's degree in Dakar in 1942. Senegalese firefighter during the Second World War, Joseph Conombo was elected in 1948 advisor to the French Union, then MP for Upper Volta (1951–1958). He then became Secretary of State for the Interior of the Pierre Mendès France Government (from 4 September 1954 to 20 January 1955). From the independence of Upper Volta (Burkina Faso from 1984), acquired in 1960, Joseph Conombo becomes successively: first vice-president of the Voltaic National Assembly (1961), mayor of Ouagadougou (1961–1965) capital of the country, Member of Parliament(1970–) and Minister of Foreign Affairs (1971–1974). His career finally culminates with his accession to the post of Prime Minister of Upper Volta (from 7 July 1978 to 25 November 1980). Following a military coup, he was imprisoned for four years and released in 1985. He is the source of the twinning of the municipality of Illfurth in Alsace and Kombissiri in Burkina Faso.

Recorded positions include member of the French National Assembly, senator of the Community, Prime Minister of Burkina Faso and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso. He worked at Paris.