[citation needed] It is served by an international airport and is linked by rail to Abidjan in the Ivory Coast and, for freight only, to Kaya.

[citation needed] There are several highways linking the city to Niamey, Niger, south to Ghana, and southwest to Ivory Coast.

[citation needed] Ouagadougou has one of West Africa's largest markets, which burned down in 2003 and has since reopened with better facilities and improved fire-prevention measures.

[citation needed] Ouagadougou was founded possibly as early as 1050 CE by the Soninke Wangara diaspora from the Ghana Empire, also known as Wagadu.

The Mossi people, moving north in the 14th century, conquered Wagadugu around the same time they raided Walata, contributing to the decline of the Mali Empire.

[11] In 1919 the colonial administration made Ouagadougou the capital of the Upper Volta territory, extensively rebuilding the town.

[10] On 15 January 2016, gunmen armed with heavy weapons attacked central Ouagadougou at the Cappuccino restaurant and the Splendid Hotel.

28 people were killed,[12][13] and at least 56 wounded; after a government counterattack, a total of 176 hostages were released[14] the morning after the initial attack.

Ouagadougou's climate is hot semi-arid (BSh) under Köppen-Geiger classification, and closely borders with tropical wet and dry (Aw).

The harmattan (a dry wind) and the West African Monsoon are the two main factors that determine Ouagadougou's climate.

Being further north, Ouagadougou's warmest months are slightly hotter and drier than those of Bobo-Dioulasso, the country's second most populous city.

[citation needed] Districts of Ouagadougou include Gounghin, Kamsaoghin, Koulouba, Moemmin, Niogsin, Paspanga, Peuloghin, Bilbalogho, and Tiendpalogo.

The Stade du 4-Août is the home of Étoile Filante de Ouagadougou, the city's main football team.

[18] Thomas Sankara International Airport Ouagadougou (code OUA) serves the area with flights to West Africa and Europe.

[25] The economy is dominated by the informal sector, which is characterized by petty commodity production, and workers not necessarily having salaries.

[25] Ouagadougou is twinned with: The Bangr-Weoogo urban park (area: 2.63 km2 (1 sq mi)), before colonialism, belonged to the Mosse chiefs.