Many have spent their entire lives under the leadership of one man and — with Burkina Faso stagnating at 183rd out of 186 countries on the UN human development index — many have had enough.

The situation is being closely watched across Africa where at least four heads of state are preparing or considering similar changes to stay in power, from Burundi to Benin.

Compaore was only 36 when he seized power in the coup in which his former friend and one of Africa’s most loved leaders, Thomas Sankara, was ousted and assassinated.

He has remained in power since, re-elected president four times since 1991 — to two seven-year and two five-year terms.

Known in colonial times as Upper Volta, the landlocked country became independent from France in 1960 and its name was changed to Burkina Faso (“the land of upright men”) in 1984.

* Key dates in Burkina Faso after President Blaise Compaore, who seized power in 1987, was toppled on Thursday and the army took power.

Compaore served two seven-year terms before a change to the constitution allowed him to serve another two five-year terms.

He had been seeking to amend the constitution to be able to run for re-election once again in 2015.

– October 15, 1987: Compaore seizes power in a coup in which his former friend and one of Africa’s most loved leaders, Thomas Sankara, is ousted and assassinated.

Compaore quickly launches a “rectification” of Sankara’s “democratic, popular revolution”, that include the execution of two other comrades in arms accused of plotting yet another coup.

– June 2, 1991: A new constitution establishes a multi-party system and brings an end to 11 years of military rule.

– December 1, 1991: Compaore is elected president, but the vote is marked by an opposition boycott.

– November, 15, 1998: Compaore is re-elected at a vote marked by another opposition boycott.

– December 13, 1998: The bodies of journalist Norbert Zongo and three others are found in a burned vehicle as he investigated a murder that might have had links to Compaore’s brother Francois. An unprecedented political and social crisis ensues.

– April 11, 2000: Deputies modify the constitution to give the president a five-year mandate, renewable once. In 1997, deputies had approved an unlimited number of seven-year terms.

– October 7, 2003: Authorities say they have foiled an attempted coup. Togo and Ivory Coast are suspected of involvement, but deny links with the putschists.

– December 20-21, 2006: Clashes between police and soldiers in which five are killed and several dozen injured in the capital.

– February and March 2008: Violent demonstrations erupt against the high cost of living.

– November 21, 2010: Compaore wins the presidential election at the first round. Opposition candidates reject the outcome and denounce “serious irregularities”.

– March-June 2011: Protests break out over high food prices, unemployment, rising costs and looting by troops. Soldiers and paramilitary police join the unrest in April, going on the rampage in several towns. Compaore is forced to leave the capital for a short time, and then names himself defence minister.

– January 2, 2013: Compaore forms a new government, keeping the role of defence minister.

– December 12, 2013: Compaore mentions plans for a referendum on changes to Article 37 of the constitution, which limits presidential mandates to two. Opposition figures accuse him of preparing a “constitutional coup”.

– October 21, 2014: The government announces a referendum on the constitutional change, which would allow Compaore to stand in the November 2015 presidential election.

– October 28, 2014: Hundreds of thousands — one million according to the opposition — take to the streets to denounce the plans.

– October 30, 2014: Burkina’s army seizes power, with the head of the armed forces announcing the dissolution of government and parliament and the creation of a transitional body to run the country after violent protests against Compaore’s 27-year-rule.

The emergency measures come after demonstrators set fire to the parliament and other buildings, forcing the government to scrap the vote on extending Compaore’s rule. At least one man is killed in the chaos.

The army later orders a dusk-to-dawn curfew.