Joseph Conombo

Joseph Issoufou Conombo (9 February 1917 – 20 December 2008) served as Prime Minister of Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) from 7 July 1978 to 25 November 1980.

Born in the department of Kombissiri, he attended medical school in Dakar, Senegal, then served in the French forces during World War II.

In 1951, Conombo was elected to the French National Assembly, a position he held until Upper Volta gained independence in 1959, even serving as undersecretary of state (1954–1955) in the government of Pierre Mendès France.

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).

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).