Thomas Sankara, the ‘African Che Guevara’ Who Tried to Save Burkina Faso from French Imperialism

Thomas Sankara, the ‘African Che Guevara’ Who Tried to Save Burkina Faso from French Imperialism

• After a successful coup against a corrupt government in Burkina Faso in 1983, Thomas Sankara was nicknamed “Che Guevara in Africa.”

• Sankara, formerly known as “Upper Volta,” changed its name to the land of Burkina Faso, meaning “land for equal people.”

• Sankara is a pan-African who aims to build a self-sufficient and economically sufficient population by eliminating widespread government corruption.

• He also helped the country eliminate dependence on former French settlers and other foreign aid.

• According to his biography, Sankara’s foreign policy focuses on “anti-imperialism, and his government avoids all foreign aid and demands an abominable debt relief.”

• At the same time, its domestic policy focuses on preventing hunger through self-sufficiency and land reform, promoting public health, and prioritizing education.

• Sankara is committed to protecting the environment and is determined to stop female genital mutilation, commonly known as female genital mutilation.

• As a promoter of women’s rights, he also pledged to appoint women as leaders in Burkina Faso’s government.

• On October 15, 1987, Sankara was assassinated by 13 other officers. They were all shot.

• His murder was organized by his close ally Blaise Compaoré and was supported by the French.