The coat of arms of Burkina Faso contains a shield based on the national flag. Above the shield the name of the country is shown, while below it is the former national motto, Unité, Progrès, Justice (French for "Unity, Progress, Justice").

Within the context of the Progressive and Popular Revolution, This motto has been replaced in some official contexts with the national motto with the motto La Patrie ou la Mort, nous vaincrons ("Fatherland or death, we shall overcome"'), this variant is seen on the website of the president of Burkina Faso.

The supporters are two white stallions. The two plants emerging from the lower banner appear to represent pearl millet, an important cereal grain cultivated in this country where agriculture represents 32% of the gross domestic product. This coat of arms is similar to the old Upper Volta coat of arms (see below), with the Burkina Faso flag replacing the Upper Volta flag in the middle. The coat of arms and its meaning is mandated by Law No 020/97/II/AN.

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File:Coat of Arms of Burkina Faso 2025 - Present.jpg|Emblem since 2025

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Historic emblem (1984–1997)

Thomas Sankara's 1983–1987 Burkinabé socialist revolution implemented an emblem featuring a crossed daba (a traditional Burkinabé agricultural tool) and AK-47 (an allusion to the Soviet hammer and sickle), with the motto La Patrie ou la Mort, nous vaincrons ("Fatherland or death, we shall overcome"').

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File:Coat of arms of Burkina Faso 1984-1991.svg|Emblem 1984–1997

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Coat of arms of Upper Volta

This somewhat resembles the current emblem, except that the enclosing shield has a blue background, the inescutcheon is based on the flag of Upper Volta with the superimposed letters "RHV" (for République de Haute-Volta), and the motto was Unité, Travail, Justice ("Unity, Labour, Justice"). Also, there are two hoes and a sorghum plant at the base of the inescutcheon.

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File:Coat of arms of Upper Volta.svg|Coat of arms of Upper Volta from 1961 to 1984

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References