History

This Order was established by Decree on August 6, 1993, and has since replaced the National Order of Merit of Upper Volta and the Order of Labour. It is awarded to Burkinabé citizens for professional devotion and long and faithful service. The President is the Grand Master of the Order.

The Knight is awarded for a minimum of 15 years of meritorious service. Knights and Officers may be promoted to the next grade after an additional 5 years of service, Commanders after 4 years, and Grand Officers after 3 years. These service requirements may be waived or reduced under exceptional circumstances - such as wartime, when an injured member may benefit from halved service requirements.

The Order may be awarded with a clasp that denotes the type of recognised merit. The clasps include:
- AMITIE-COOPERATION (Friendship-Cooperation)
- EDUCATION
- ACTION SOCIALE (Social Action)
- ADMINISTRATION
- AGRICULTURE ET ELEVAGE (Agriculture and Animal Husbandry)
- SANTE (Health)
- DEFENSE (Defence)
- SECURITE (Security)

The Grand Cross Breast Star is identical to the Grand Officer Breast Star. The obverse inscription translates to "Order of Merit."