Thomas Sankara – President of Burkina Faso from 1983 to 1987. He was assassinated in a coup d’état led by his former friend and colleague Blaise Compaoré.
Thomas Sankara was a revolutionary and socialist leader who served as the President of Burkina Faso from 1983 before he was assassination in 1987.
He was born on December 21, 1949, in Yako, Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) and was the third of ten children in his Family.
Sankara came from a humble background and his family was part of the Mossi ethnic group, which was traditionally marginalized in the country.
Sankara rose to power in a coup d’état on August 4, 1983, when he overthrew the government of President Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo.
He renamed the country Burkina Faso, which means “land of the upright people,” and immediately set about implementing radical reforms to improve the lives of the country’s poor majority.
During his short time in office, Sankara implemented policies aimed at promoting self-sufficiency and reducing dependence on foreign aid.
He nationalized land and mineral resources, abolished feudalism and forced labor, and launched ambitious programs to promote education, healthcare, and gender equality. Sankara also advocated for African unity and worked to strengthen ties with other countries on the continent.
Despite his popularity and achievements, Sankara faced opposition from within his own government and was eventually overthrown and assassinated in a coup led by his former friend and colleague, Blaise Compaoré.
Sankara’s legacy, however, has continued to inspire many in Africa and around the world.
He is remembered as a charismatic and visionary leader who fought for the rights of the poor and marginalized, and sought to transform his country and the continent as a whole.