Thomas Sankara

Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara (French pronunciation: [tɔmɑ izidɔʁ nɔɛl sɑ̃kaʁa]; 21 December 1949 – 15 October 1987) na he be a Burkinabè military officer, Marxist den Pan-Africanist revolutionary wey na he serve as de Presido of Burkina Faso from 1983, dey follow ein takeover insyd a coup, til ein assassination insyd 1987.

After he be appointed Prime Minister insyd 1983, na disputes plus de sitting government result insyd Sankara ein eventual imprisonment. While na he dey under house arrest, na a group of revolutionaries seize power on ein behalf insyd a popularly supported coup later dat year.

For de age of 33, na Sankara cam turn de Presido of de Republic of Upper Volta wey he launch an unprecedented series of social, ecological, den economic reforms. Insyd 1984, na Sankara oversee de renaming of de country as Burkina Faso ('land of de upright people'), wey na he personally wrep ein national anthem. Na ein foreign policy dey centere on anti-imperialism wey na he reject loans den capital from organizations such as de International Monetary Fund. However, na he welcam sam foreign aid in an effort nake e boost de domestic economy, diversify de sources of assistance, den make Burkina Faso self-sufficient.Murrey 2018, p. 171.

Na ein domestic policies include famine prevention, agrarian expansion, land reform, den dey suspend rural poll taxes, as well as a nationwide literacy campaign den vaccination program make e reduce meningitis, yellow fever den measles. Na Sankara ein health programmes distribute millions of doses of vaccines to kiddies across Burkina Faso.Murrey 2018, p. 73.Murrey, Amber (2020), Oloruntoba, Samuel Ojo; Falola, Toyin (eds.), "Thomas Sankara and a Political Economy of Happiness", The Palgrave Handbook of African Political Economy, Palgrave Handbooks in IPE, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 193–208, doi:10.1007/978-3-030-38922-2_10, ISBN 978-3-030-38922-2, S2CID 226439167, retrieved 31 December 2020 Na ein government sanso focus on building schools, health centres, water reservoirs, den infrastructure projects. Na he combat desertification of de Sahel by he plant more dan 10 million trees. Socially, na ein government enforce de prohibition of female circumcision, forced marriages den polygamy. Na Sankara reinforce ein populist image by he order de sale of luxury vehicles den properties wey be owned by de government so say e go reduce costs. For addition, na he ban wat na he consider de luxury of air conditioning insyd government offices, den homes of politicians. Na he establish Cuban-inspired Committees for the Defense of the Revolution make e serve as a new foundation of society den promote popular mobilization. Ein Popular Revolutionary Tribunals prosecute public officials dem charge plus graft, political crimes den corruption, wey dey consider such elements of de state counter-revolutionaries. Na dis lead to criticism by Amnesty International for alleged human rights violations, such as arbitrary detentions of political opponents.

Na Sankara ein revolutionary programmes den reforms give African self-reliance make am an icon to chaw of Africa ein poverty-stricken nations, wey de president remain popular plus a substantial majority of ein country ein citizens, as well as those outsyd Burkina Faso. Na sam of ein policies alienate elements of de former ruling class, wey dey include tribal leaders — den de governments of France den ein ally de Ivory Coast.

On 15 October 1987, na Sankara be assassinated by troops wey Blaise Compaoré lead, wey na he assume leadership of de country shortly thereafter. Na Compaoré retain power til de 2014 Burkina Faso uprising. Insyd 2021, na dem formally charge am plus wey dem find am guilty for de murder of Sankara by a military tribunal.

 Early life 

Na dem born Thomas Sankara as Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara on 21 December 1949 insyd Yako, French Upper Volta, as de third of ten kiddies to Joseph den Marguerite Sankara. Na ein poppie, Joseph Sankara, a gendarme, be of Silmi–Mossi heritage, while na ein mommie, Marguerite Kinda, be of direct Mossi descent. Na he spend ein early years insyd Gaoua, a town insyd de humid southwest to wich na dem transfer ein poppie as an auxiliary gendarme. As de son of one of de few African functionaries wey na dem employ by de colonial state, na he enjoy a relatively privileged position. Na de family live insyd a brick house plus de families of oda gendarmes for de top of a hill wey dey overlook de rest of Gaoua.

Na Sankara attend primary school for Bobo-Dioulasso.E put in serious effort for hin books and shine well for mathematics and French. E dey go church often and because of hin energy and eagerness to learn, some priests sabi encourage am make e go seminary school when e finish primary. Though e agree first, e still take exam wey go allow am enter sixth grade for regular school and e pass am. Di decision wey Thomas make to continue hin education for di nearest lycée, Ouezzin Coulibaly (after one nationalist before independence), turn out to be big change. E pack from hin papa house to go lycée for Bobo-Dioulasso, wey be di hustle center of di country. For there, Sankara meet close paddy, like Fidèle Too, wey later he go make minister for hin government; and Soumane Touré, wey dey for more advanced class. 

Ein Roman Catholic parents wan make him become priest, but him choose enter military instead. At dat time, military dey hot, dem just kick out Maurice Yaméogo, wey nobody like, for president. Plenty young sharp minds see am as one national body wey fit help fix the lazy plus corrupt government, balance de power of chiefs, plus help make de country modern. If you enter military academy, dem go give you scholarship; else Sankara no go fit pay for further education. Him write entrance exam den pass am. 

Na he enter de military academy of Kadiogo insyd Ouagadougou plus de academy ein first intake of 1966 for de age of 17. While der na he witness de first military coup d'état insyd Upper Volta wey Lieutenant-Colonel Sangoulé Lamizana lead (3 January 1966). Na civilian professors teach trainee officers insyd de social sciences. Adama Touré, wey na he teach history den geography, na he de academic director for de time wey he be known for he get progressive ideas, although na he no publicly share dem. Na he invite a few of ein brightest den more political students, among dem Sankara, make dem join informal discussions outsyd de classroom about imperialism, neocolonialism, socialism den communism, de Soviet den Chinese revolutions, de liberation movements insyd Africa, den similar topics. Dis be di first time wey Sankara see revolution way wey dey happen for Upper Volta and di world. No be only him school work and political gist, e still dey chase him music love and e dey play di guitar too. 

Insyd 1970, na 20-year-old Sankara go for further military studies for de military academy of Antsirabe insyd Madagascar, from wich na he graduate as a junior officer insyd 1973. For de Antsirabe academy, na de range of instruction go beyond standard military subjects, wich na e allow Sankara make he study agriculture, wey dey include how to raise crop yields den better de lives of farmers. Na he take up dese issues insyd ein own administration den country. During dat period, na he read profusely on history den military strategy, thus he acquire de concepts den analytical tools wey na he later go use insyd ein reinterpretation of Burkinabe political history. E b like say im dey gree for French leftist profs wey dey Madagascar. Dem minds don fit touch am well, but Samir Amin come carry plenti jara for im brain, wey dey talk about auto-centered development and how to run away from global capitalism. Dem dey be bros too. Thomas Sankara own speeches and works show say e no just dey follow Cuban ways or Amin ideas. E dey go beyond Marxism, e still dey draw from religious things, like Bible and Quran wey e dey like read. E focus on farmers, and e dey do am solo from Amin and Mao Zedong, wey carry serious impact for Burkina Faso plus other African countries too.Adam Mayer: Military Marxism: Africa's Contribution to Revolutionary Theory, 1957-2023, Lexington Books, Lanham, 2025, pp. 138-146

 Military career 

After ein basic military training insyd secondary school insyd 1966, na Sankara begin ein military career for de age of 19. A year later na dem send am to Madagascar for officer training for Antsirabe, wer na he witness popular uprisings insyd 1971 den 1972 against de government of Philibert Tsiranana. Na during dis period he first read de works of Karl Marx den Vladimir Lenin, wich profoundly influence ein political views for de rest of ein life.

Na he return to Upper Volta insys 1972, he fight in a border war between Upper Volta den Mali by 1974. Na he earn fame for ein performance insyd de conflict, buh years later he renounce de fighting as 'useless den unjust', a reflection of ein growing political consciousness. Na he sanso cam turn a popular figure insyd de capital of Ouagadougou. Na Sankara be a decent guitarist. Na he play insyd a band dem name Tout-à-Coup Jazz wey na he ride a bicycle.

Insyd 1976 na he cam be commander of de Commando Training Centre insyd Pô. During de presidency of Colonel Saye Zerbo, na a group of young officers form a secret organization dem call ROC, na de best-known members be Henri Zongo, Jean-Baptiste Boukary Lingani, Blaise Compaoré den Sankara.

 Government posts 

Na dem appoint Sankara Minister of Information insyd Saye Zerbo ein military government insyd September 1981. Na Sankara differentiate einself from oda government officials insyd chaw ways such as he dey bike to work everyday, instead of make he drive insyd a car. While na ein predecessors go censor journalists den newspapers, na Sankara encourage investigative journalism wey he allow de media make dem print watever e go find. Na dis lead to publications of government scandals by both privately owned den state-owned newspapers. Na he resign on 12 April 1982 insyd opposition to wat na he see as de regime ein anti-labour drift, wey he declare 'Misfortune to those wey gag de people!' ().

After na anoda coup (7 November 1982) bring power to Major-Doctor Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo, Sankara cam turn Prime Minister insyd January 1983. Buh na dem dismiss am a few months later, on 17 May. During those four months, na Sankara push Ouédraogo ein regime for more progressive reforms. Na dem arrest Sankara after de French Presido ein African affairs adviser, Guy Penne, meet plus Col. Yorian Somé. Na dem sanso place Henri Zongo den Jean-Baptiste Boukary Lingani under arrest. Na de decision make dem arrest Sankara prove e be very unpopular plus de younger officers insyd de military regime. Na ein imprisonment create enough momentum give ein paddie Blaise Compaoré make he lead anoda coup.

 Presidency 

Na a coup d'état organize by Blaise Compaoré make Sankara Presido on 4 August 1983 for de age of 33. Na de coup d'état be supported by Libya, wich na for de time dey on de verge of war plus France insyd Chad.

Na Sankara identify as a revolutionary wey na he be inspired by de examples of Cuba ein Fidel Castro den Che Guevara, den Ghana ein military leader Jerry Rawlings. As Presido, na he promote de 'Democratic and Popular Revolution' (, anaa RDP). Na de ideology of de Revolution be defined by Sankara as anti-imperialist insyd a speech on 2 October 1983, de  (DOP), wey be written by ein close associate Valère Somé. Na ein policy be oriented toward fighting corruption den dey promote reforestation.

On 4 August 1984, de first anniversary of ein accession, na he rename de country Burkina Faso, wey dey mean 'de land of upright people' insyd Mooré den Dyula, de two major languages of de country. Na he sanso give am a new flag wey he wrep a new national anthem (Ditanyè).

 Council of de Revolution 
Wen na Sankara assume power on 4 August, na he name de leadership of de country de Council of the Revolution (CNR). Na dis be a way for Sankara make he signal say na he dey go try for political den social change. Na de CNR compose of both civilians den soldiers, all ordinary people. Buh na de member count be secret for security reasons wey ebe known to Sankara den odas per insyd ein inner circle.

De CNR dey meet regular make dem yarn about important plans and decisions for di country. Dem dey give advice and direction for di government action. Dem dey vote for suggestions and decisions from government officials; na collective dem dey make di decision. Sometimes, dem go even overrule proposals wey Sankara like personally.

 Healthcare den public works 

Na Sankara ein first priorities after taking office be feeding, housing, den dey provide medical care to ein people wey desperately need am. Na he launch a mass vaccination program wey be aimed at make e eradicate polio, meningitis, den measles. From 1983 to 1985, na dem vaccinate 2 million Burkinabé, significantly wey improve public health outcomes.

Before Sankara take over as president, pikin wey dem go born for Burkina Faso dem dy die like 20.8%. But when he dey there, e drop go 14.5%, show say the health plan wey him get dey work well. Him government be de first one for Africa wey recognize AIDS wahala as big gbege for the continent, show say him sabi wetin dey happen for public health matter.

Besides healthcare, Sankara dey reason big housing and infrastructure projects. E start brick factories make dem fit build houses and reduce urban slums. Dis move provide affordable housing plus create jobs, e help boost economy stability.

To fight dis deforestation wahala, Sankara start 'The People's Harvest of Forest Nurseries,' wey supply 7,000 village nurseries and also organize planting plenty trees. Dis reforestation effort no be just to fix environment, but to create sustainable farming way fit last. Him government join all regions for di country with big road and rail program. Over 700 km of rail dey laid by Burkinabé people, make dem fit extract manganese for 'The Battle of the Rails,' without any foreign help or money. Dis initiatives show say him believe say African countries fit shine without foreign support.

Sankara put education for front to fight the country wey get 90% people no sabi read and write. Him government run correct education programs wey help people sabi read well. After dem kill am, teachers start to strike and di new government no wan gree talk, so dem come create 'Revolutionary Teachers.' For 1996, near 2,500 teachers lose dem job because of strike, make di government call anybodi wey go school to come teach for di revolutionary teachers program. Dem give volunteers 10 days training before dem start to teach.

 Agriculture 
Insyd de 1980s, na more dan 90% of de populace still be agrarian farmers. Na less dan 6 percent of land wey fi be irrigated na dey receive irrigation, while na de rest rely for rain top, wich na e be highly unreliable den inadequate. Na 10% of de population per get animals for plowing, whilst de rest rely on individual use of short hoes make dem plow. Few livestock herders get access to fodder; na dem for roam de countrysyd in search of grazing land den watering spots. Secof dis, na hunger remain prevalent. Insyd years of drought, na de rural population be threatened by famines.

For Sankara five-year plan, 71% of money dem plan for productive sectors go agriculture, livestock, fishing, wildlife den forests. For three years, dem irrigate 25% more land thanks to volunteer projects. For Sourou Valley, dem build dam sharp-sharp with volunteer work. Fertilizer use increase well-well by 56%. Plenty tractors buy and import for big cooperative projects.

Plenty village cereal banks don build as wey CDRs gather people make dem work together for help farmers store dem crops and sell am. Before, farmers no go fit keep extra grains, so dem go sell am to local traders wey go come back sell the same grains for desame village for double de price.

For August 1984, all land dem nationalize am. Before, local chiefs dey decide who fit farm. Some areas don start to get private land ownership. Total cereal production jump by 75% from 1983 go 1986. Four years later, UN-analyze talk say Burkinian agriculture don dey productive well-well, e fit feed demself.

 Environment 
Insyd de 1980s, wen na ecological awareness still be very low, na Thomas Sankara be one of de few leaders make dem consider environmental protection a priority. Na he engage insyd three major battles: against bush fires, 'wich na e be considered as crimes wey dem go be punished as such'; against cattle roaming, 'wich dey infringe on de rights of peoples secof unattended animals destroy nature'; den against de chaotic cutting of firewood, 'wey na dem for organize den regulate dema profession'.

For better Ghana, dem plant ten million trees for Burkina Faso within fifteen months during di 'revolution'. Dem wan fight di advancing desert and dry season wey no gree rest. Thomas Sankara also talk say make dem plant green strips like fifty kilometers, cross di country from east to west. He dey think say make dis green belt reach other countries too.

From October 1984, for like fifteen months, Sankara government plant ten million trees for reforestation wahala. Sankara talk say, "For Burkina, wood be our only energy source. Everybody suppose remember say e get duty to take care of nature and make am fresh again."

 People's Revolutionary Tribunals 
Shortly after he attain power, na Sankara construct a system of courts dem know as de Popular Revolutionary Tribunal. Na dem create de courts originally make dem try former government officials insyd a straightforward way so de average Burkinabé fi participate insyd anaa oversee trials of enemies of de revolution. Na dem place defendants on trial for corruption, tax evasion, anaa counter-revolutionary activity. Na sentences for former government officials be light wey na dem often suspend dem. Na dem allege de tribunals be only show trials, dem hold very openly plus oversight from de public.

US State Department talk say di way dem dey do trial no fit international standards, especially di way dem dey protect di accused. Dem wey dey face case go prove say dem no do di crime dem charge dem for, plus dem no fit get lawyer to help dem. Di courts for start, di Burkinabé pipo dey hail am, but later dem call am corrupt and wicked. Dem dey label some pipo as 'lazy workers' and dem go trial dem, make dem work for free, or dem go remove dem from dem job and treat dem bad. Some people even start dem own courts to settle score den disgrace demma enemies.

 Revolutionary Defence Committees 
Na de Committees for the Defense of the Revolution () na e be formed as mass armed organizations. Na dem create de CDRs as a counterweight to de power of de army as well as make dem promote political den social revolution. Na he take de idea for de Revolutionary Defence Committees from Cuban leader Fidel Castro, wey na dem create ein Committees for de Defense of de Revolution as a form of 'revolutionary vigilance'.

 Relations plus de Mossi people 
A point of contention wey dey regard Sankara ein rule be de way na he handle de Mossi ethnic group. De Mossi be de largest ethnic group insyd Burkina Faso, wey dem dey adhere to a strict, traditional, hierarchical social systems. For de top of de hierarchy be de Morho Naba, de chief anaa king of de Mossi people. Na Sankara view dis arrangement as an obstacle to national unity, wey na he proceede make he demote de Mossi elite. Na dem no allow de Morho Naba make he hold courts. Na dem strip off local village chiefs of dema executive powers, wich na dem give to de CDR.

 Women's rights 
Na Sankara extensively work for women's rights wey he declare "Der be no true social revolution widout de liberation of women".

Sankara dey try improve women status for Burkina society, e be one of him main goals. Him government carry plenty women join, e no be normal for West Africa. Dem ban female genital mutilation, forced marriages and polygamy. Dem also give women top government positions, encourage dem make dem work outside and go school even if dem get belle. Sankara carry contraception come front den for 1986, all restriction for contraception clear. Him even start Ministry of Family Development plus De Union of Burkina Women.

Sankara sabi di wahala wey African women dey face when e give im big talk for International Women's Day for 8 March 1987 for Ouagadougou. E talk to plenty women, yan say di Burkinabé Revolution dey 'establish new social relations', wey go 'change di authority game between men and women, make dem rethink wetin e mean to be either. Dis work no easy but e need plenty'. Plus, e be di first African leader wey fit give women top cabinet positions, e also dey carry dem join military well well.

 Agacher Strip War 
link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Moussa_Traor%C3%A9_(1989)_(cropped).jpg|left|thumb|209x209px|Moussa Traoré
Dey follow de 1974 clashes between Burkina Faso den Mali over de disputed territory of de Agacher Strip, na de Organisation of African Unity create a mediation commission make dem resolve de disagreement den provide for an independent, neutral demarcation of de border. Na both governments declare say dem no go use armed force to end de dispute.

But for 1983, di two countries no gree on wetin di commission dey do. Sankara no like Malian President Moussa Traoré at all, wey don take power after him remove Modibo Keïta wey dey do left-learning regime. On 17 September, Sankara go Mali go meet Traoré. With Algerian people help, dem agree say make dem carry di border wahala go International Court of Justice (ICJ) make dem settle am.

For July 1985, Burkina Faso don declare Malian secretary general of Economic Community of West Africa, Drissa Keita, as persona non grata because him talk bad about Sankara regime. For September, Sankara come drop speech wey him dey call for revolution for Mali. Dem Malian leaders dey feel am well, as dem country dey face social wahala. At that same time, Sankara and di other big boys for CNR dey sure say Traoré dey keep opposition for Burkinabé regime for Bamako and dey plan to start border wahala, wey go fit support counterrevolution.
link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Burkina-Mali_boundary_dispute,_US_Department_of_State_map.jpg|thumb|United States Department of State map wey dey show wetin Mali and Burkina Faso dey fight for insyde Agacher Strip
Border wahala start on 24 November when one Burkinabé guy kill another for near Soum Province. Malian police cross border go arrest de murderer and carry some members of local Committee for the Defence of de Revolution wey dey prepare tribunal. Three days later, Malian police enter Kounia to ‘restore order’. Burkina Faso dey try to talk to Mali about the matter, but dem no get any proper answer.

Early December, Burkina Faso tell Mali plus di surrounding countries say dem go carry out dia national census from 10 to 20 December. On 14 December, soldiers enter Agacher to help with di census. Mali dey accuse di military for pressuring Malian people wey dey border villages to register for di census, but Burkina Faso no gree. To cool things down, ANAD, some West African group, send people go Bamako and Ouagadougou to mediate. Algeria president, Chadli Bendjedid, contact Sankara den Traoré to push for peaceful way out. As ANAD members request am, Burkina Faso talk say dem go withdraw all soldiers from di area wey dey cause wahala.

Even though dem talk say dem withdraw, wahala don start as Burkinabé and Malian people dey toss hot messages like say na war. Traoré dey feel threaten by Sankara, so Traoré don begin gather Mali to prepare for fight with Burkina Faso. Dem form three groups and plan to enter Burkina Faso come meet Bobo-Dioulasso. Once dem reach there, dem go rally Burkinabé people wey no gree Sankara, make dem take Ouagadougou den overthrow Sankara.

Former Sankara guy Paul Michaud talk say Sankara wan provoke Mali make wahala happen, so people fit rally for him government. Michaud talk say, one reliable Malian source don report say dem catch mobilization papers wey date reach 19 December for de bodies of Burkinabé soldiers wey fall during di war wey follow.

Sankara try plenty to show say e get good credentials, but dem dey sabotage am. 'E no easy to believe say Malian authorities no sabi say di rumors wey dey go around no be true,' U.S. Ambassador Leonardo Neher talk. Contrary to wetin Michaud talk, one CIA message talk say, 'Di war begin because Bamako dey hope say di wahala go make coup happen for Burkina Faso.'

For early morning wey dey 25 December 1985, around 150 Malian Armed Forces tanks cross border come attack plenty place. Dem Malian soldiers still try wrap Bobo-Dioulasso for pincer attack. Burkina Faso Army dey struggle to push dem back, but Malian firepower too strong; dem no fit hold front for north. Malian forces quickly take control towns like Dionouga, Selba, Kouna, and Douna for Agacher. De Burkinabé government for Ouagadougou hear say wahala don start around 1pm, so dem quickly issue mobilization order. Dem still put plenty security measure for country, including night blackout.

Burkinabé soldiers gather for action for Dionouga side to fight back. Captain Compaoré dey lead dem for dis western front. E make soldiers divide into small groups and use guerrilla style to face de Malian tanks.

Once de wahala start, some African big men try make peace. For morning of 30 December, Burkina Faso and Mali agree for ANAD to help with ceasefire. By that time, Mali don take over plenty land for Agacher Strip. Over 100 Burkinabé and around 40 Malian soldiers plus civilians don kpai during de war. The Burkinabé towns like Ouahigouya, Djibo, plus Nassambou don suffer plenty damage from de fight.

For ANAD summit wey happen for Yamoussoukro for 17 January 1987, Traoré den Sankara meet plus agree make dem stop all di fight. Later, ICJ divide di Agacher; Mali carry di busier side wey dey west and Burkina Faso take di east side wey dey around Béli River. Both countries happy with di judgement.

Burkina Faso talk say di war be 'international plot' wey dem wan use bring down Sankara government. Dem no gree believe say na because of rumoured minerals for Agacher dem dey fight. Di way dem perform no too good for di conflict scatter CNR credibility for home. Some Burkinabé soldiers dey vex say Sankara no dey push di war well and no rally for counterattack against Mali.

Di conflict show sey di country no dey strong for international level, and e force di CNR to change dem style to fit better abroad. After di wahala, di Burkinabé government no talk much about supporting revolution for other countries, plus demma relationship with France de improve small small. For one rally wey dem hold after di war, Sankara admit sey di country's military no dey well armed and he talk sey dem go reduce sentence for plenty political prisoners.

 Relations plus oda countries 
Na Thomas Sankara define ein program as anti-imperialist. Insyd dis respect, na France cam be de main target of revolutionary rhetoric. Wen na Presido François Mitterrand visit Burkina Faso insyd November 1986, Sankara criticize de French for dem receive P. W. Botha, de Prime Minister of South Africa, wich still enforce apartheid; den Jonas Savimbi, de leader of UNITA, insyd France, wey he refer to both men as 'covered insyd blood from head to toe'. For response, na France reduce ein economic aid to Burkina Faso by 80% between 1983 den 1985.

Na Guy Penne, Presido Mitterrand ein advisor on African affairs, organize a media campaign insyd France make he denigrate Thomas Sankara in collaboration plus de DGSE. Na e provide de press plus a series of documents on supposed atrocities dem intend make dem feed articles against am.

Sankara set up program wey go make dem dey work with Cuba. After e meet Fidel Castro, e plan make young Burkinabés go Cuba for September 1986 to learn professional skills and help for di country development when dem come back. Na volunteers wey dem gather through competition; dem give priority to orphans and young pipo wey dey rural and poor areas. About 600 teenagers fly go Cuba to finish dem schooling and learn to become doctors (especially gynecologists), engineers, or agronomists.

E no gree how United States dey support Israel and South Africa, so he urge African countries make dem boycott the 1984 Summer Olympics for Los Angeles. For United Nations General Assembly, e talk say wetin United States do for Grenada no fine at all. That country come dey ya wey dey put trade sanctions for Burkina Faso. For UN too, Sankara talk say make dem end dis veto power wey big powers sabi dey use. By di name of di 'right of people to govern demself', e support di national demands of Western Sahara, Palestine, di Nicaraguan Sandinistas, plus di ANC for South Africa.

While na he get good relations plus Ghanaian leader Jerry Rawlings den Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, na Sankara be relatively isolated insyd West Africa. Leaders close to France, such as Félix Houphouët-Boigny insyd Ivory Coast den Hassan II insyd Morocco, na dem be particularly hostile to am.Amzat Boukari-Yabara, Africa Unite ! : Une histoire du panafricanisme, Paris: La Découverte, 2014

 Criticism 
Oxfam wey be British development organization talk say dem arrest trade union leaders for 1987. For 1984, seven people wey dey link to di past government for Burkina Faso face treason charges and dem chop execution after quick trial. NGOs and unions dey suffer harassment or dem dey put under di authority of di Committees for di Defense of di Revolution, wey get branches for everywhere wey dey work and dem dey act like 'organs of political den social control'.

Three days after Sankara don take power for 1983 via popular revolution, National Union of African Teachers of Upper Volta (SNEAHV) don call Sankara and him government fascist, dem dey urge workers make dem ready for fight for their freedom. As wahala dey, government order make dem arrest four big men from SNEAHV, one come dey free sharp sharp. In reply, SNEAHV come call for national teachers' strike to protest di arrest. Government see am as big problem wey fit shake di already weak Upper Volta wey don see five coups since e independence. So, di minister for National Education come tell private school directors make dem no use di strikers for demma establishments. Dis matter affect around 1300-1500 teachers.

Popular Revolutionary Tribunals wey government set everywhere for di country, dey put people on trial for corruption, tax evasion or 'counter-revolutionary' wahala. Di way dem dey run dis trials, especially for di people wey dey accused, no follow international standards at all. Christian Morrisson and Jean-Paul Azam from di Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development talk say di 'urgency wey dey inside and di drastic action wey dem dey take wey make dem dey punish people fast-fast, especially for those wey dey found guilty for no dey behave revolutionary, e dey resemble wetin happen for di worst days of di French Revolution, during di Reign of Terror. Even though dem no kill plenty people , violence dey show face everywhere.'

 Death 
On 15 October 1987, na dem kill Sankara den twelve oda officials insyd a coup d'état wey be organized by ein former colleague Blaise Compaoré. Wen na he dey account for ein overthrow, na Compaoré state dat na Sankara jeopardize foreign relations plus former colonial power France den neighbouring Ivory Coast, wey he accuse ein former comrade of he dey plot make he assassinate opponents.

Prince Johnson, wey be former warlord from Liberia wey dey side Charles Taylor and him don kill Liberia president Samuel Doe wey dem film im last hours, talk say na Charles Taylor arrange am for Liberia Truth plus Reconciliation Commission. After the coup, even though dem don already know say Sankara don die, some CDRs still carry gun take fight army for several days.

As Halouna Traoré wey be di only person wey survive Sankara assassination talk, Sankara dey attend meeting wey dem call Conseil de l'Entente. Dem wey kill am no waste time, dem just find am and execute am. After dat, dem shoot di people wey dey inside di meeting, kill 12 more people. Sankara body dey full of bullet for di back plus dem rush bury am for place wey nobody sabi while him wife Mariam plus two pikin run comot from di country. Compaoré wey take over quickly change all di nationalization wey Sankara don do, cancel almost all him policies, come join di International Monetary Fund and World Bank for 'money wey dem really need' to bring back di 'broken' economy plus for di end, e no show respect for Sankara legacy. Compaoré dictatorship remain to de  rule for 27 years before dem overthrow am with protest for 2014.

 Trial 
Insyd 2017, na de Burkina Faso government officially ask de French government make dem release military documents on de killing of Sankara after na ein widow accuse France of masterminding ein assassination. Na de French presido Emmanuel Macron promise make he release French documents wey dey concern Sankara ein assassination go be "declassified".

For April 2021, 34 years afta dem kill Sankara, di former president Compaoré and 13 other guys face charge for dem involvement for Sankara murder and plenty other wahala wey happen for di coup. Dis matter happen as part of President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré plan for 'national reconciliation'.

For October 2021, dem start trial wey Compaoré and 13 other people dey face for Ouagadougou, with Compaoré being tried by trial without show face. Ex-security boss Hyacinthe Kafondo too dey trial without show. One week before trial start, Compaoré lawyers talk say e no go fit come because dem dey see am like say e get wahala, plus e dey enjoy immunity as former head of state. After dem ask for small time make dem fit prepare beta defense, dem postpone di hearing till 1 March.

On 6 April 2022, na dem find guilty Compaoré den two odas wey na dem sentence dem to life insyd prison in absentia.Na dem sentence eight odas to between 3 den 20 years insyd prison. Na dem find three innocent.

 Exhumation 
Dem start to dig Sankara body wey people believe say e dey ground on African Liberation Day, 25 May 2015. Dem no gree make dem dig during di time of him successor, Blaise Compaoré. Dis digging go allow di family to fit identify di body well, something wey dem don dey ask for long time from di family plus him supporters.

For October 2015, one lawyer wey dey work for Sankara's wife, Mariam, talk say di autopsy show say Sankara body dey ‘full’ with ‘more than twelve’ bullets.

For 2025, dem go re-bury Sankara plus all the pipo wey die wit am for that 1987 coup, for one fine mausoleum wey dem build for where Conseil de l’Entente dey for Ouagadougou.

 Legacy 
link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coat_of_arms_of_Burkina_Faso_1984-1991.svg|thumb|The coat of arms of Burkina Faso under Sankara from 1984 to 1987, featuring a crossed mattock and AK-47 (an allusion to the hammer and sickle) with the motto  ('Fatherland or death, we will win'). A mattock and AK-47 are also featured on the Coat of arms of Mozambique, while the motto below the arms is also the current motto of Cuba, although in Spanish.
Sankara get big charm wey dey attract people, plus e get plenty original ideas wey make am popular and bring some international media eyes come check wetin e dey do for him government.

 Solidarity 

 E sell all di government fleet of Mercedes cars come make di Renault 5 (di cheapest car wey dey sell for Burkina Faso dat time) di official service car for di ministers.
 E cut salary for better-off public workers (even him own sef) and e no gree anybody use govt drivers or first class flight tickets.
 E no gree foreign aid, e talk say 'Na who dey feed you, na him dey control you'.
 E dey talk for place like African Unity say dem dey try penetrate Africa with neocolonialism through Western trade plus finance.
 E call make Africa dey come together to reject their outside debt. E talk say, di poor wey dem dey use no suppose pay money wey di rich wey dey exploit dem don collect.

 For Ouagadougou, Sankara turn army food store into state supermarket wey everybody fit enter (na di first supermarket for di country).
 E make rich civil servants pay one month salary for public projects o.
 E no gree use di air conditioning for him office because e talk say dat kind enjoyment no dey for everybody, only small people wey dey Burkina Faso fit enjoy am.
 As President, e reduce im salary to $450 for month plus e limit wetin e go fit get to one car, four bikes, three guitars, one fridge, and one broken freezer.

 Style 

 E tell public servants make dem wear traditional tunic wey dem weave from Burkinabé cotton and Burkinabé craftsmen go sew am.
 E dey jog solo for Ouagadougou, him dey wear him tracksuit, plus him military uniform wey fit am well, and him get pistol wey be like mother-of-pearl.
 When dem ask am why e no wan make dem hang im picture for public like other African leaders, Sankara talk say: "E get seven million Thomas Sankaras."
 An accomplished guitarist, he wrote de new national anthem himself.
link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pionniers_de_la_r%C3%A9volution.jpg|left|thumb|Pioneers of the Revolution

 Burkina Faso 
Dem unveil Sankara statue for 2019 for di place wey dem kill am for Ouagadougou; but because some people complain say e no resemble him face, dem bring new statue come out one year later.

For 2023, Burkina Faso government don officially declare say Sankara be national hero.

For October 2023, as dem mark 36 years wey dem kill am, di government change one big road name for Ouagadougou to show respect for Sankara. Di road wey dem talk be di Boulevard Charles de Gaulle, now e dey called Boulevard Capitaine Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara.

 International recognition 
Cuba give Sankara di highest award for di state, di Order of José Martí.Thomas Sankara: An African Revolutionary by Ernest Harsh page 1985

Twenty years wey dem kill am, dem remember Sankara for 15 October 2007. Dem do ceremonies for Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, Niger, Tanzania, Burundi, France, Canada  plus de United States.

 Africa's Che Guevara 
Dem dey call Sankara "Africa wey be Che Guevara".Thomas Sankara, ‘Africa’s Che Guevara’, reburied in Burkina Faso E give speech to mark 20 years wey Che Guevara die for 9 October 1967, just one week before dem go kill am for 15 October 1987.

List of works
Thomas Sankara Speaks: The Burkina Faso Revolution, 1983–87, Pathfinder Press: 1988. .
We Are the Heirs of the World's Revolutions: Speeches from the Burkina Faso Revolution 1983–87, Pathfinder Press: 2007. .
Women's Liberation and the African Freedom Struggle, Pathfinder Press: 1990. .

Read further
Books
Monographs
Who killed Sankara?, by Alfred Cudjoe, 1988, University of California, .
La voce nel deserto, by Vittorio Martinelli and Sofia Massai, 2009, Zona Editrice, .
Thomas Sankara – An African Revolutionary, by Ernest Harsch, 2014, Ohio University Press, .
A Certain Amount of Madness: The Life, Politics and Legacies of Thomas Sankara (Black Critique), by Amber Murrey, 2018, Pluto Press, .
Sankara, Compaoré et la révolution burkinabè, by Ludo Martens and Hilde Meesters, 1989, Editions Aden, .
Military Marxism: Africa's Contribution to Revolutionary Theory, 1957-2023, by Adam Mayer, 2025, Lexington Books, Lanham.

Historical novel wey dey include Thomas Sankara
American Spy, by Lauren Wilkinson, 2019, Random House, .

 Web articles 

 Burkina Faso's Pure President by Bruno Jaffré.
 Thomas Sankara Lives! by Mukoma Wa Ngugi.
 There Are Seven Million Sankaras by Koni Benson.
 Thomas Sankara: "I have a Dream" by Federico Bastiani.
 Thomas Sankara: Chronicle of an Organised Tragedy by Cheriff M. Sy.
 Thomas Sankara Former Leader of Burkina Faso by Désiré-Joseph Katihabwa.
 Thomas Sankara 20 Years Later: A Tribute to Integrity by Demba Moussa Dembélé.
 Remembering Thomas Sankara, Rebecca Davis, The Daily Maverick, 2013.
 "I can hear the roar of women's silence", Sokarie Ekine, Red Pepper, 2012.
 Thomas Sankara: A View of The Future for Africa and The Third World by Ameth Lo.
 Thomas Sankara on the Emancipation of Women, An internationalist whose ideas live on! by Nathi Mthethwa.
 Thomas Sankara, le Che africain by Pierre Venuat (in French).
 Thomas Sankara e la rivoluzione interrotta by Enrico Palumbo (in Italian).

Documentaries

 Capitaine Thomas Sankara: Requiem pour un Président assassiné at IMDb, 1987 documentary by Didier Mauro
 Thomas Sankara at IMDb, 1991 documentary by Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda
 Thomas Sankara: The Upright Man, 2006 documentary by Robin Shuffield
 Fratricide au Burkina, Thomas Sankara et la Françafrique at IMDb, 2007 documentary by Thuy-Tiên Hô and Didier Mauro
 Thomas Sankara, la revolución asesinada at IMDb, 2011 documentary by Tristan Goasguen
 Capitaine Thomas Sankara at IMDb, 2012 documentary by Christophe Cupelin
 Comprendre la révolution burkinabé at IMDb, 2017 documentary by Thuy-Tiên Hô

 References 

Sources

 External links 

 ThomasSankara.net, a website dem dedicate to Thomas Sankara
 Thomas Sankara at the Marxists Internet Archive.

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