Biography

Thomas Sankara: Revolutionary Leader of Burkina Faso (1949-1987)

Early Life and Military Career

• Born December 21, 1949 in Yako, French Upper Volta
• Educated at military academy in Madagascar
• Trained as parachute commando in France
• Served as army captain in 1970s

Rise to Power

Political Awakening:

• Appointed Secretary of State for Information (1981)
• Briefly imprisoned after opposing government policies

Revolutionary Period (1983-1987):

• Came to power via coup on August 4, 1983 at age 33
• Renamed country from Upper Volta to Burkina Faso (“Land of Upright People”)
• Became President of the National Revolutionary Council

Domestic Reforms

Social Programs:

• Vaccinated 2.5 million children against meningitis in a few weeks
• Built over 350 schools and literacy centers
• Instituted women’s rights reforms including:
  • Banning forced marriages
  • Outlawing polygamy
  • Appointing women to government positions

Economic Policies:

• Reduced government salaries (including his own)
• Launched agricultural self-sufficiency programs
• Initiated massive infrastructure projects:
  • Roads built without foreign aid
  • Railway expansion
  • Village water drilling projects

International Relations

Foreign Policy:

• Opposed foreign aid and IMF/World Bank influence
• Supported liberation movements in:
  • South Africa
  • Namibia
  • Palestine
• Called for African debt cancellation at OAU summit

Notable Speeches:

• United Nations address (1984)
• Organization of African Unity summit (1987)

Assassination and Legacy

• Killed in coup on October 15, 1987 at age 37
• Policies largely reversed after his death
• Inspired new generations of African activists

Key Statistics

Achievement	Data
Child vaccination campaign	2.5 million in a few weeks
Schools built	350+
Women in government	5 cabinet ministers
Salary reduction	Cut presidential salary