The interim administration of Burkina Faso paid respects to the nation’s late revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara on Sunday, October 15. Sankara was slain in a coup 36 years ago.
The late leader’s relatives, the transition president, and government representatives were present in Ouagadougou.
After Lt. Sankara was named a national hero at the beginning of October, a celebration was held.
“Article 1. The late Captain Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara is recognised as a Hero of the Nation […] The day of homage to the late Captain Isidore Thomas Noël Sankara is to be celebrated every 15th of October in Ouagadougou,” Bassolma Bazié, Minister of the Civil Service of Burkina Faso said.
Captain Traoré, president of the transition, lay the cornerstone for the mauseoleum of Thomas Sankara. The location of the assassination of Thomas Sankara and 12 of his friends will be the location of the mauseoleum.
The memorial’s neighboring street, Boulevard Charles de Gaulle, was renamed in honour of the legendary former president and pan-Africanist.
“Today the Boulevard has been named Boulevard Thomas Sankara instead of Boulevard Charles de Gaulle. So today we’re very proud. Because if the Boulevard had been named after imperialists, today we think that we also have heroes, we also have valiant Burkinabe [after whom we] can name these Boulevards or streets […]”
A putschist commando assassinated Thomas Sankara and twelve of his associates after he was overthrown in a coup in 1983.
Right-hand man for Sankara, former president Blaise Compaoré received a life sentence for Sankara’s murder in 2022.
