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69-525: Zongo, Thomas Sankara , Jean-Baptiste Boukary Lingani and Blaise Compaoré formed the inner core of a military group that launched the 1983 coup d'état that brought Sankara to power as president. Zongo was appointed as the Minister of Economic Promotion on 4 August 1983: a role he served until his death. Zongo also served as the Sports Minister of Upper Volta; he called for an African boycott of

138-510: A dam was built within a few months almost entirely by volunteer labour. The use of fertilizers increased by 56%. Hundreds of tractors were bought and imported for large-scale cooperative projects. Hundreds of village cereal banks were built through collective labour organised by the CDRs to help farmers store and market their crops. In the past, farmers would have no way to store surplus grains and had to sell them to local merchants, who would sell

207-467: A gendarme , was of mixed Mossi – Fulani (Silmi–Moaga) heritage, while his mother, Marguerite Kinda, was of direct Mossi descent. He spent his early years in Gaoua , a town in the humid southwest to which his father was transferred as an auxiliary gendarme. As the son of one of the few African functionaries then employed by the colonial state, he enjoyed a relatively privileged position. The family lived in

276-463: A 10-day training course before beginning to teach. In the 1980s, more than 90% of the populace were still agrarian farmers. Less than 6 percent of land that could be irrigated was receiving irrigation, while the rest relied on rain, which was highly unreliable and inadequate. Only 10% of the population had animals for plowing, whilst the rest relied on individual use of short hoes to plow. Few livestock herders had access to fodder ; they had to roam

345-626: A Ministry of Family Development and the Union of Burkina Women. Sankara recognized the challenges faced by African women when he gave his famous address to mark International Women's Day on 8 March 1987 in Ouagadougou. Sankara spoke to thousands of women, saying that the Burkinabé Revolution was 'establishing new social relations', which would be 'upsetting the relations of authority between men and women and forcing each to rethink

414-461: A brick house with the families of other gendarmes at the top of a hill overlooking the rest of Gaoua. Sankara attended primary school at Bobo-Dioulasso . He applied himself seriously to his schoolwork and excelled in mathematics and French. He went to church often and, impressed with his energy and eagerness to learn, some of the priests encouraged Thomas to go on to seminary school once he finished primary school. Despite initially agreeing, he took

483-540: A development program involving a large part of the population, ten million trees were planted in Burkina Faso in fifteen months during the 'revolution'. To face the advancing desert and recurrent droughts, Thomas Sankara also proposed planting wooded strips of about fifty kilometers, crossing the country from east to west. He thought of extending this vegetation belt to other countries. Beginning in October 1984, over

552-441: A foreign policy based on anti-imperialism , land redistribution from feudal landlords to the peasantry, mass vaccinations of children, a nationwide literacy campaign, the promotion of reforestation, and so on. Upper Volta was renamed Burkina Faso, to promote a new national identity. In order to achieve this radical transformation of society, he increasingly exerted government control over the nation, eventually banning trade unions and

621-601: A form of 'revolutionary vigilance'. A point of contention regarding Sankara's rule is the way he handled the Mossi ethnic group . The Mossi are the largest ethnic group in Burkina Faso, and they adhere to a strict, traditional, hierarchical social systems. At the top of the hierarchy is the Morho Naba , the chief or king of the Mossi people. Sankara viewed this arrangement as an obstacle to national unity, and proceeded to demote

690-521: A genuinely transformed new society might look like." Others have described the CDRs as slowly falling into such activities rather than being formed for them, deteriorating from popular mass organizations into gangs of armed thugs which clashed with trade unionists. In Ghana , ruled by the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), the military junta led by Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings , groups likewise dubbed

759-472: A large number of women, an unprecedented policy priority in West Africa. His government banned female genital mutilation , forced marriages and polygamy , while appointing women to high governmental positions and encouraging them to work outside the home and stay in school even if pregnant. Sankara promoted contraception and in 1986 all restrictions on contraception were removed. He also established

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828-691: A mass vaccination programme in an attempt to eradicate polio , meningitis and measles . From 1983 to 1985, 2 million Burkinabé were vaccinated. Prior to Sankara's presidency, infant mortality in Burkina Faso was about 20.8%; during his presidency it fell to 14.5%. Sankara's administration was the first African government to publicly recognize the AIDS epidemic as a major threat to Africa. Large-scale housing and infrastructure projects were also undertaken. Brick factories were created to help build houses in an effort to end urban slums. In an attempt to fight deforestation, The People's Harvest of Forest Nurseries

897-444: A minister in his government; and Soumane Touré , who was in a more advanced class. His Roman Catholic parents wanted him to become a priest, but he chose to enter the military . The military was popular at the time, having just ousted Maurice Yaméogo , an unpopular president. Many young intellectuals viewed it as a national institution that might potentially help to discipline the inefficient and corrupt bureaucracy, counterbalance

966-503: A nationwide literacy campaign and vaccination program to reduce meningitis , yellow fever and measles . Sankara's health programmes distributed millions of doses of vaccines to children across Burkina Faso. His government also focused on building schools, health centres, water reservoirs, and infrastructure projects. He combatted desertification of the Sahel by planting more than 10 million trees. Socially, his government enforced

1035-458: A peaceful resolution. At the request of ANAD members, Burkina Faso announced the withdrawal of all military personnel from the disputed region. Despite the declared withdrawal, a 'war of the communiques' ensued as Burkinabé and Malian authorities exchanged hostile messages. Feeling threatened by Sankara, Traoré began preparing Mali for hostilities with Burkina Faso. Three groupements were formed and planned to invade Burkina Faso and converge on

1104-689: A popular figure in the capital of Ouagadougou . Sankara was a decent guitarist. He played in a band named Tout-à-Coup Jazz and rode a bicycle. In 1976 he became commander of the Commando Training Centre in Pô . In the same year he met Blaise Compaoré in Morocco. During the presidency of Colonel Saye Zerbo , a group of young officers formed a secret organization called ROC , the best-known members being Henri Zongo , Jean-Baptiste Boukary Lingani , Blaise Compaoré and Sankara. Sankara

1173-418: A straightforward way so the average Burkinabé could participate in or oversee trials of enemies of the revolution. They placed defendants on trial for corruption, tax evasion, or counter-revolutionary activity. Sentences for former government officials were light and often suspended. The tribunals have been alleged to have been only show trials , held very openly with oversight from the public. According to

1242-580: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This biographical article related to an African military person is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Thomas Sankara Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara ( French pronunciation: [tɔmɑ izidɔʁ nɔɛl sɑ̃kaʁa] ; 21 December 1949 – 15 October 1987) was a Burkinabè military officer, Marxist revolutionary and Pan-Africanist who served as President of Burkina Faso from his coup in 1983 to his assassination in 1987 . After being appointed Prime Minister in 1983, disputes with

1311-500: The 1984 Summer Olympics . Zongo, Lingani and Compaoré then led the 1987 coup d'état that saw the overthrow of Sankara. After this overthrow, Compaoré took power at the head of a triumvirate of which Zongo and Lingani were members. Zongo and Lingani disagreed with Compaoré on economic reform issues and were accused of an attempt to overthrow the government . Zongo, Lingani and two unnamed military plotters were arrested and executed in 1989. This Burkinabé biographical article

1380-698: The Committees for the Defense of the Revolution in Cuba , and functioned as "organs of political and social control." Two decades after decolonization from France , the Republic of Upper Volta had suffered numerous military regimes and uprisings (primarily led by the strong trade unionist movement ). In 1982, Major Dr. Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo overthrew the government of Colonel Saye Zerbo , instituting

1449-754: The US State Department , procedures in these trials, especially legal protections for the accused, did not conform to international standards. Defendants had to prove themselves innocent of the crimes they were charged with committing and were not allowed to be represented by counsel. The courts were initially highly admired by the Burkinabé people but were eventually labeled corrupt and oppressive. So-called 'lazy workers' were tried and sentenced to work for free, or expelled from their jobs and discriminated against. Some created their own courts to settle scores and humiliate their enemies. The Committees for

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1518-495: The Committees for the Defense of the Revolution far less benevolently, enacting thuggery rather than social revolution. It has been alleged that the CDRs were formed to intimidate and weaken the trade unions as well as other established interest groups. The Ugandan Catholic priest Emmanuel Katongole has written that the CDRs operated as "administrative tentacles and vigilante groups rather than incubators or exemplars of what

1587-443: The Committees for the Defense of the Revolution were instituted on 31 December 1984, possibly inspired by the Burkinabé variant of the name. These were intended to "act as watchdogs against corruption", and replaced the previous People's and Workers' Defence Committees. Rawlings, a close friend of Thomas Sankara, would eventually adopt conservative and right-wing policies rather than radical left-wing such. On 15 October 1987 Sankara

1656-551: The Defence of the Revolution ( Comités de Défense de la Révolution or CDRs ) were formed as mass armed organizations. The CDRs were created as a counterweight to the power of the army as well as to promote political and social revolution. The idea for the Revolutionary Defence Committees was taken from Cuban leader Fidel Castro, whose Committees for the Defence of the Revolution had been created as

1725-630: The Defence of the Revolution to serve as a new foundation of society and promote popular mobilization. His Popular Revolutionary Tribunals prosecuted public officials charged with graft , political crimes and corruption, considering such elements of the state counter-revolutionaries . This led to criticism by Amnesty International for human rights violations, including the government's practice of extrajudicial executions and arbitrary detentions of political opponents. Sankara's revolutionary programmes and reforms for African self-reliance made him an icon to many of Africa's poverty-stricken nations, and

1794-569: The Defense of the Revolution (Burkina Faso) The Committees for the Defense of the Revolution ( French : Comités de Défense de la Révolution , CDRs ) were systems of local revolutionary cells, established in Burkina Faso by the Marxist-Leninist and pan-Africanist leader Thomas Sankara , President of the country from 1983 until his assassination in 1987. Committees were established in each workplace . They were inspired by

1863-454: The Mossi elite. The Morho Naba was not allowed to hold courts. Local village chiefs were stripped of their executive powers, which were given to the CDR. Sankara had extensively worked for women's rights and declared "There is no true social revolution without the liberation of women". Improving women's status in Burkinabé society was one of Sankara's explicit goals, and his government included

1932-450: The Revolution (CNR) was formed to rule the country. Within short he began implementing a radical programme of social, cultural, economic and political reform, which he dubbed the "Democratic and Popular Revolution" ( French : Révolution démocratique et populaire , or RDP). The policies enacted by Sankara included the abolition of tribal chiefs' privileges, heavy advances in women's rights, anti- HIV/AIDS efforts, anti-corruption campaigns,

2001-528: The Revolution was defined by Sankara as anti-imperialist in a speech on 2 October 1983, the Discours d'orientation politique (DOP), written by his close associate Valère Somé . His policy was oriented toward fighting corruption and promoting reforestation. On 4 August 1984, the first anniversary of his accession, he renamed the country Burkina Faso, meaning 'the land of upright people' in Mooré and Dyula ,

2070-494: The age of 33. The coup d'état was supported by Libya , which was at the time on the verge of war with France in Chad (see history of Chad ). Sankara identified as a revolutionary and was inspired by the examples of Cuba's Fidel Castro and Che Guevara , and Ghana's military leader Jerry Rawlings . As President, he promoted the 'Democratic and Popular Revolution' ( Révolution démocratique et populaire , or RDP). The ideology of

2139-412: The basic functions of society was carried out by the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution through attempting to mobilize the masses, and to carry out political education. Involving the people in governance was also portrayed as "the best way to avoid the army seizing power for itself", and as such the CDRs were endowed with administrative, economic and judicial responsibilities. Some have viewed

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2208-475: The bodies of fallen Burkinabé soldiers during the ensuing war. Sankara's efforts to provide evidence of his bona fides were systematically undermined. 'It is hard to believe that the Malian authorities are unaware that the rumors circulating are false,' says U.S. Ambassador Leonardo Neher . In contrast to Michaud's assertion, a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) cable states, 'The war was born of Bamako's hope that

2277-638: The border dispute settled by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and subsequently petitioned the body to resolve the issue. In July 1985 Burkina Faso declared the Malian secretary general of the Economic Community of West Africa , Drissa Keita, a persona non grata after he criticized Sankara's regime. In September Sankara delivered a speech in which he called for a revolution in Mali. Malian leaders were particularly sensitive to

2346-540: The border in Soum Province . Malian police crossed the boundary to arrest the murderer and also detained several members of a local Committee for the Defence of the Revolution who were preparing a tribunal. Three days later Malian police entered Kounia to 'restore order'. Burkina Faso made diplomatic representations on the incidents to Mali, but was given no formal response. At the beginning of December, Burkina Faso informed Mali and other surrounding countries that it

2415-414: The border. Both governments had declared that they would not use armed force to end the dispute. But by 1983 the two countries disagreed about the work of the commission. Sankara personally disliked Malian President Moussa Traoré , who had taken power by deposing Modibo Keïta 's left-leaning regime. On 17 September Sankara visited Mali and met with Traoré. With Algerian mediation, the two agreed to have

2484-428: The city of Bobo-Dioulasso . Once there, they would rally Burkinabé opposition forces to take Ouagadougou and overthrow Sankara. Former Sankara aide Paul Michaud wrote that Sankara had intended to provoke Mali into conflict with the aim of mobilizing popular support for his regime. According to Michaud, "an official—and reliable—Malian source" had reported that mobilization documents dating to 19 December were found on

2553-524: The classroom about imperialism , neocolonialism , socialism and communism , the Soviet and Chinese revolutions , the liberation movements in Africa, and similar topics. This was the first time Sankara was systematically exposed to a revolutionary perspective on Upper Volta and the world. Aside from his academic and extracurricular political activities, Sankara also pursued his passion for music and played

2622-443: The concepts and analytical tools that he would later use in his reinterpretation of Burkinabe political history. After his basic military training in secondary school in 1966, Sankara began his military career at the age of 19. A year later he was sent to Madagascar for officer training at Antsirabe , where he witnessed popular uprisings in 1971 and 1972 against the government of Philibert Tsiranana . During this period he first read

2691-414: The conflict would trigger a coup in Burkina Faso.' At dawn on 25 December 1985, about 150 Malian Army tanks crossed the frontier and attacked several locations. Malian troops also attempted to envelop Bobo-Dioulasso in a pincer attack. The Burkina Faso Army struggled to repel the offensive in the face of superior Malian firepower and were overwhelmed on the northern front; Malian forces quickly secured

2760-450: The country shortly thereafter. Compaoré retained power until the 2014 Burkina Faso uprising . In 2021, he was formally charged with and found guilty for the murder of Sankara by a military tribunal. Thomas Sankara was born Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara on 21 December 1949 in Yako , French Upper Volta , as the third of ten children to Joseph and Marguerite Sankara. His father, Joseph Sankara,

2829-649: The country to Burkina Faso ('Land of Incorruptible People'), with its people being called Burkinabé ('upright people'). His foreign policies were centred on anti-imperialism and he rejected loans and capital from organizations such as the International Monetary Fund . However he welcomed some foreign aid in an effort to boost the domestic economy, diversify the sources of assistance, and make Burkina Faso self-sufficient . His domestic policies included famine prevention, agrarian expansion, land reform , and suspending rural poll taxes , as well as

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2898-448: The country's 90% illiteracy rate. These programmes saw great success. Shortly after the assassination of Sankara, wide-scale teachers' strikes, coupled with the new regime's unwillingness to negotiate, led to the creation of 'Revolutionary Teachers'. In an attempt to replace the nearly 2,500 teachers fired over a strike in 1996, anyone with a college degree was invited to teach through the revolutionary teachers' programme. Volunteers received

2967-429: The countryside in search of grazing land and watering spots. Because of this, hunger remained prevalent. In years of drought, the rural population was threatened by famines. In Sankara's five-year plan, some 71% of projected investments for the productive sectors were allocated to agriculture, livestock, fishing, wildlife and forests. In 3 years, 25% more land was irrigated because of volunteer projects. In Sourou Valley,

3036-657: The coup – he called on "the Voltaic people to form Committees for the Defense of the Revolution everywhere in order to fully participate in the CNR's great patriotic struggle and to prevent our enemies here and abroad from harming our people." Sankara, heavily inspired by Che Guevara and the Cuban Revolution , modelled them after the Comités de Defensa de la Revolución of Cuba, a network of neighbourhood committees across

3105-561: The exam required for entry to the sixth grade in the secular educational system and passed. Thomas's decision to continue with his education at the nearest lycée , Ouezzin Coulibaly (named after a pre-independence nationalist), proved to be a turning point. He left his father's household to attend the lycée in Bobo-Dioulasso, the country's commercial centre. There Sankara made close friends, including Fidèle Too , whom he later named

3174-538: The first military coup d'état in Upper Volta led by Lieutenant-Colonel Sangoulé Lamizana (3 January 1966). The trainee officers were taught by civilian professors in the social sciences. Adama Touré , who taught history and geography, was the academic director at the time and known for having progressive ideas, although he did not publicly share them. He invited a few of his brightest and more political students, among them Sankara, to join informal discussions outside

3243-657: The guitar. In 1970, 20-year-old Sankara went for further military studies at the military academy of Antsirabe in Madagascar , from which he graduated as a junior officer in 1973. At the Antsirabe academy, the range of instruction went beyond standard military subjects, which allowed Sankara to study agriculture , including how to raise crop yields and better the lives of farmers. He took up these issues in his own administration and country. During that period, he read profusely on history and military strategy, thus acquiring

3312-576: The independent press. Corrupt officials, "lazy workers" and supposed counter-revolutionaries were tried publicly in the Popular Revolutionary Tribunals ( French : Tribunaux populaires de la Révolution , TPRs ). One primary tool of implementing the "Democratic and Popular Revolution" was the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution. They were formed in 1983, having been mentioned in Sankara's first speech following

3381-475: The inflammatory rhetoric, as their country was undergoing social unrest. Around the same time, Sankara and other key figures in the CNR became convinced that Traoré was harbouring opposition to the Burkinabé regime in Bamako and plotting to provoke a border war, which would be used to support a counterrevolution. Tensions at the border began to rise on 24 November when one Burkinabé national killed another near

3450-481: The inordinate influence of traditional chiefs, and generally help modernize the country. Acceptance into the military academy was accompanied by a scholarship; Sankara could not easily afford the costs of further education otherwise. He took the entrance exam and passed. He entered the military academy of Kadiogo in Ouagadougou with the academy's first intake of 1966 at the age of 17. While there he witnessed

3519-404: The island. Formed by Fidel Castro in 1960, they were dubbed by Castro a "collective system of revolutionary vigilance". The Burkinabé CDRs, however, took a wider approach – Sankara intended them to serve as a new foundation of society, a platform for popular mobilization which would revolutionize life in Burkina Faso and restructure its social space on a local level. This goal of restructuring

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3588-599: The member count was secret for security reasons and known only to Sankara and others in his inner circle. The CNR regularly met to talk about important plans and decisions for the country. They helped give advice and direction to the government's actions. They voted on suggestions and decisions from governments officials; the decision making was collective . On some occasions, they overruled even proposals favoured personally by Sankara. Sankara's first priorities after taking office were feeding, housing and giving medical care to his people who desperately needed it. Sankara launched

3657-586: The nature of both. This task is formidable but necessary'. In addition to being the first African leader to appoint women to major cabinet positions, he recruited them actively for the military . Following the 1974 clashes between Burkina Faso and Mali over the disputed territory of the Agacher Strip, the Organization of African Unity had created a mediation commission to resolve the disagreement and provide for an independent, neutral demarcation of

3726-460: The president remained popular with a substantial majority of his country's citizens, as well as those outside Burkina Faso. But some of his policies alienated elements of the former ruling class, including tribal leaders — and the governments of France and its ally, the Ivory Coast . On 15 October 1987, Sankara was assassinated by troops led by Blaise Compaoré , who assumed leadership of

3795-400: The prohibition of female genital mutilation , forced marriages and polygamy . Sankara reinforced his populist image by ordering the sale of luxury vehicles and properties owned by the government in order to reduce costs. In addition, he banned what he considered the luxury of air conditioning in government offices, and homes of politicians. He established Cuban-inspired Committees for

3864-485: The regime's anti-labour drift, declaring 'Misfortune to those who gag the people!' ( Malheur à ceux qui bâillonnent le peuple! ). After another coup (7 November 1982) brought to power Major-Doctor Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo , Sankara became Prime Minister in January 1983. But he was dismissed a few months later, on 17 May. During those four months, Sankara pushed Ouédraogo's regime for more progressive reforms. Sankara

3933-655: The rule of the Council of Popular Salvation (CSP). Factional infighting developed between moderates in the CSP and the radicals, led by Captain Thomas Sankara, a war veteran who was appointed prime minister in January 1983. Sankara was arrested soon afterwards, which triggered a coup on 4 August 1983 organized by among others Captain Blaise Compaoré . Sankara was released, and made president. The National Council for

4002-434: The same crops back to the same village for twice the cost. In August 1984, all land was nationalized . Previously, local chiefs had decided who could farm. In some areas, private land ownership had begun to arise. The total cereal production rose by 75% between 1983 and 1986. In four years, UN-analysts declared Burkinian agriculture as productive enough to be "food self-sufficient". In the 1980s, when ecological awareness

4071-460: The sitting government led to Sankara's eventual imprisonment. While he was under house arrest, a group of revolutionaries seized power on his behalf in a popularly-supported coup later that year. At the age of 33, Sankara became the President of the Republic of Upper Volta and launched an unprecedented series of social, ecological, and economic reforms. In 1984, Sankara oversaw the renaming of

4140-539: The space of fifteen months Sankara's government planted ten million trees in a campaign of reforestation . Sankara said "In Burkina wood is our only source of energy. We have to constantly remind every individual of his duty to maintain and regenerate nature". Shortly after attaining power, Sankara constructed a system of courts known as the Popular Revolutionary Tribunal . The courts were created originally to try former government officials in

4209-714: The towns of Dionouga, Selba, Kouna, and Douna in the Agacher. The Burkinabé government in Ouagadougou received word of hostilities at about 13:00 and immediately issued mobilization orders. Various security measures were also imposed across the country, including nighttime blackouts . Burkinabé forces regrouped in the Dionouga area to counter-attack . Captain Compaoré took command of this western front. Under his leadership soldiers split into small groups and employed guerrilla tactics against Malian tanks. Committees for

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4278-401: The two major languages of the country. He also gave it a new flag and wrote a new national anthem ( Ditanyè ). When Sankara assumed power on 4 August, he named the leadership of the country the Council of the Revolution (CNR). This was a way for Sankara to signal that he was going to try for political and social change. The CNR composed of both civilians and soldiers, all ordinary people. But

4347-413: The works of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin , which profoundly influenced his political views for the rest of his life. Returning to Upper Volta in 1972, he fought in a border war between Upper Volta and Mali by 1974. He earned fame for his performance in the conflict, but years later would renounce the fighting as 'useless and unjust', a reflection of his growing political consciousness . He also became

4416-668: Was appointed Minister of Information in Saye Zerbo's military government in September 1981. Sankara differentiated himself from other government officials in many ways such as biking to work everyday, instead of driving in a car. While his predecessors would censor journalists and newspapers, Sankara encouraged investigative journalism and allowed the media to print whatever it found. This led to publications of government scandals by both privately owned and state-owned newspapers. He resigned on 12 April 1982 in opposition to what he saw as

4485-567: Was arrested after the French President's African affairs adviser, Guy Penne  [ fr ] , met with Col. Yorian Somé. Henri Zongo and Jean-Baptiste Boukary Lingani were also placed under arrest. The decision to arrest Sankara proved to be very unpopular with the younger officers in the military regime. His imprisonment created enough momentum for his friend Blaise Compaoré to lead another coup. A coup d'état organized by Blaise Compaoré made Sankara President on 4 August 1983 at

4554-525: Was conducting its decennial national census from 10 to 20 December. On 14 December military personnel entered the Agacher to assist with the census. Mali accused the military authorities of pressuring Malian citizens in border villages to register with the census, a charge which Burkina Faso disputed. In an attempt to reduce tensions, ANAD (a West African treaty organization) dispatched a delegation to Bamako and Ouagadougou to mediate. President of Algeria Chadli Bendjedid contacted Sankara and Traoré to encourage

4623-601: Was created to supply 7,000 village nurseries, as well as organizing the planting of several million trees. All regions of the country were soon connected by a vast road- and rail-building programme. Over 700 km (430 mi) of rail was laid by Burkinabé people to facilitate manganese extraction in 'The Battle of the Rails', without any foreign aid or outside money. These programmes were an attempt to prove that African countries could be prosperous without foreign help or aid. Sankara also launched education programmes to help combat

4692-478: Was killed by a group of military officers, in a coup d'état organised by his former colleague and friend, Blaise Compaoré. Despite knowledge of the revolutionary's death spreading, some CDRs mounted an armed resistance to the army for several days. Compaoré, who would go on to rule Burkina Faso for almost three decades before being ousted from power by the 2014 Burkinabé uprising (at least partially inspired by Thomas Sankara ), immediately set out to reverse most of

4761-472: Was still very low, Thomas Sankara was one of the few African leaders to consider environmental protection a priority. He engaged in three major battles: against bush fires , 'which will be considered as crimes and will be punished as such'; against cattle roaming , 'which infringes on the rights of peoples because unattended animals destroy nature'; and against the chaotic cutting of firewood, 'whose profession will have to be organized and regulated'. As part of

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