Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
London views possibility of setting fire to tanker in port of friendly country to Russia to damage port infrastructure, initiate an international probe: Moscow
One of London's scenarios involves setting up accident with 'undesirable' tanker in one of the bottlenecks of maritime communications: Russian foreign intelligence agency
London plans to organize major sabotage with tankers to declare transportation of Russian oil to international shipping: Russian foreign intelligence agency
UK intelligence agencies plan to use NATO allies to launch massive raid on 'Shadow Fleet': Russian foreign intelligence agency
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.

Who Killed Africa’s Che Guevara?

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies + Al Mayadeen Net
  • 12 Oct 2021 00:47
  • 4 Shares
4 Min Read

The trial is deemed as one of the most highly anticipated African trials ever.

  • x
  • Thomas Sankara changed Burkina Faso forever.
    Thomas Sankara changed Burkina Faso forever.

On 15 October 1987, pan-Africanist leader and president of Burkina Faso, Thomas Sankara, was shot dead.

He was only 37.

Africa’s Guevara

Sankara, alias “Africa’s Che Guevara”, was a principled Marxist revolutionary who seized power in a coup at the age of 33. That year, his nation was reshaped and began experiencing a hopeful yet short-lived reign.

Before Thomas Sankara’s arrival, Burkina Faso was called Upper Volta by France. Refuting this colonial naming, Sankara changed it to the current name which means “the land of upright people” in Mossi, the nation’s most spoken language.

Outlining his political views shortly after becoming president, he said “the revolution’s main objective is to destroy imperialist domination and exploitation.”

His actions rang true to his words, as he fought inequality, expanded access to education, led the first AIDS awareness campaign in Africa, redistributed land, and banned female genital mutilation and polygamy.

To top it all off, he forced government officials to give up perks such as first-class tickets, and did not bow down to the demands of former colonial power, France.

Related News

Burkina Faso's military junta claims to thwart ‘total chaos’ attempt

Algeria closes airspace to Mali, recalls ambassadors over drone row

His assassination

On the fateful day of his assassination, Sankara was only 4 years in rule when a hit squad led by his close friend, Blaise Compaoré, shot him and 12 others in the capital, Ouagadougou.

The assassination shook Africa to the ground: Ghana declared one week of mourning, while the Congolese radio lamented the loss of ''a worthy son of Africa'' and decried '' Compaoré's treason.''

Compaoré, who was at the time Sankara’s Minister of State, then went on to succeed the Panfricanist leader and stayed in power for 27 years.

The deed that went unpunished for 34 years is now haunting its perpetrators, as a trial in Burkina Faso has finally opened on Monday.

14 men accused of orchestrating the assassination are on trial in the nation’s capital, with Compaoré heading the list, despite being tried in absentia; He lives in exile in the Ivory Coast, and all extradition attempts thus far have remained ineffectual. 

  • Who Killed Africa’s Che Guevara?
    Blaise Compaoré, former president of Burkina Faso and murderer of Sankara, is being tried in absentia.

The trial has been described by several media outlets as one of the most highly anticipated African trials ever.

For years, allegations claiming France’s involvement in the assassination circulated, notably as Compaoré’s tenure was characterized by vehement support of “Françafrique,” an arrangement allowing France to continue pulling the political strings of its previous African colonies despite the official ending of its colonial presence. 

French President Emmanuel Macron has promised in 2017 to declassify all documents pertaining to Sankara’s case, with three batches of documents shared with Burkina Faso since then. Yet none originate from the office of the French president at the time, Francois Mitterrand.

Sankara’s widow, Mariam, told journalists during her arrival at the hearing that “it is a moment we have been waiting for.” 

After ousting Compaoré in 2014, the people of Burkina Faso elected their current president Roch Marc Christian Kaboré twice, who went to honor Sankara’s legacy by erecting a statue of the assassinated leader and opening a mausoleum, a cinema, and a media library in his name.

Today’s Burkina Faso is polarized and suffering from violence and desperation. The trial could give the nation a glimmer of hope by revealing the culprit behind their leader’s murder, and the colonial forces that stood behind them. 

  • Africa
  • Burkina Faso
  • Emmanuel Macron
  • Colonialism
  • Thomas Sankara

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS