Africas Unlimited Potential: A Burkina Faso Perspective

The only five-star hotel in the capital city, the Sofitel Ouaga 2000 hotel was built by Muammar al-Gaddafi, the de facto leader of Libya, with Libyan financing.

Photo: Peter Galli/eWEEK

A large metal globe sits in the middle of Place Des Nations Unies in downtown Ouagadougou.

Photo: Peter Galli/eWEEK

There is, on almost every block, a telecenter, which provides a range of telephone and communication services. These centers are to Burkina Faso what Starbucks is to the United States.

Photo: Peter Galli/eWEEK

There is a Sonapost postal service bureau in almost every midsize town in Burkina Faso.

Photo: Peter Galli/eWEEK

Smaller, informal Internet cafes with basic systems and extremely slow connections dot the streets of Ouagadougou, while more sophisticated cafes like this can also be found.

Photo: Peter Galli/eWEEK

People use the PCs for e-mail, word processing and to update their Excel spreadsheets.

Photo: Peter Galli/eWEEK

Some of the more up-market Internet cafes offer work spaces, equipped with desks, DSL connections and other productivity amenities.

Photo: Peter Galli/eWEEK

Electronics stores like this dot the streets, offering customers the latest brand-name products.

Photo: Peter Galli/eWEEK

If its a brand-name product you want, theres a store in Burkina Faso that will have it.

Photo: Peter Galli/eWEEK

Wherever you go, there are hawkers pushing their wares and taxis loaded to the roof with goods.

Photo: Peter Galli/eWEEK

While large retail stores are not common, large wooden barrows offering everything from brushes, trowels, wire and brooms abound.

Photo: Peter Galli/eWEEK

Microsofts Unlimited Potential initiative aims to help individuals and communities around the world achieve their goals through access to relevant and affordable technologies, thereby enabling new avenues of social and economic opportunity.

Photo: Pe

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