Thomas Sankara - Revision history

General-KJ: Cleaned up opening paragraphs, sources still needed

2026-05-12T13:01:52Z

Cleaned up opening paragraphs, sources still needed

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:01, 12 May 2026
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	{{~~External article cleanup\|date=November 2021~~}}		{{Message box/Missing Sources}}{{Infobox revolutionary
	{{Infobox revolutionary
	\| name = Thomas Sankara		\| name = Thomas Sankara
	\| image = File:Thomas Sankara.jpg		\| image = File:Thomas Sankara.jpg
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	\| death_cause = Assassination		\| death_cause = Assassination
	}}		}}
	'''Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara'''~~, generally known as '''Thomas Sankara''',~~ was a [[Burkina Faso\|Burkinabé]] [[~~Marxist–Leninist~~]] ~~military officer,~~ revolutionary ~~and political~~ leader who served as [[President of Burkina Faso]] from 1983 until his assassination ~~in a [[Counterrevolution\|counter-revolution]]~~ in 1987. ~~He was often referred to as~~ the "[[Che Guevara]] of [[Africa]]".<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712 Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara] by Mathieu Bonkoungou, ''[[Reuters]]'', 17 October 2007</ref><ref name="Thomas Sankara Speaks 2007, pg 11">''Thomas Sankara Speaks: the Burkina Faso Revolution: 1983–87'', by Thomas Sankara, edited by Michel Prairie; Pathfinder, 2007, pg 11</ref><ref>[https://archive.is/20120702213957/http://static.rnw.nl/migratie/www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/071015-Burkina-Faso-Sankara-redirected "Thomas Sankara, Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''[[Radio Netherlands Worldwide]]'', 15 October 2007.</ref><ref>[http://sarahgoyens.blogspot.com/2009/01/africas-che-guevara.html "Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''Sarah in Burkina Faso''.</ref>		'''Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara''' (21 December 1949 – 15 October 1987) was a [[Burkina Faso\|Burkinabé]] [[Marxism–Leninism\|Marxist-Leninist]] revolutionary leader who served as [[President of Burkina Faso]] from 1983 until his assassination in 1987. Often called the "[[Ernesto Guevara\|Che Guevara]] of Africa,"<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712 Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara] by Mathieu Bonkoungou, ''[[Reuters]]'', 17 October 2007</ref><ref name="Thomas Sankara Speaks 2007, pg 11">''Thomas Sankara Speaks: the Burkina Faso Revolution: 1983–87'', by Thomas Sankara, edited by Michel Prairie; Pathfinder, 2007, pg 11</ref><ref>[https://archive.is/20120702213957/http://static.rnw.nl/migratie/www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/071015-Burkina-Faso-Sankara-redirected "Thomas Sankara, Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''[[Radio Netherlands Worldwide]]'', 15 October 2007.</ref><ref>[http://sarahgoyens.blogspot.com/2009/01/africas-che-guevara.html "Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''Sarah in Burkina Faso''.</ref> he seized power in the [[Burkinabé Revolution\|August Fourth Revolution]] of 1983, widely supported by the populace, and immediately sought to eliminate [[corruption]] and the influence of former [[French Republic\|French]] colonial rule. As a [[Socialism\|socialist]] and [[Pan-Africanism\|Pan-Africanist]], he renamed the country from the [[Colonialism\|colonial]] “Upper Volta” to “Burkina Faso” (“Land of Incorruptible People”), symbolizing national autonomy and rebirth.<ref>{{Web citation\|author=Hubert Jules Deschamps\|newspaper=Encyclopedia Britannica\|title=Burkina Faso\|date=2023-06-05\|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Burkina-Faso\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409175723/https://www.britannica.com/place/Burkina-Faso\|archive-date=2019-04-09}}</ref>

	~~In 1983, Sankara seized power in a military~~ [[~~coup d'état~~]], the ~~[[Burkinabé Revolution\|August Fourth Revolution]]~~, and ~~set about eliminating corruption~~ and ~~the influence of the former~~ [[~~French Republic\|French~~]] [[~~Colonialism~~\|~~colonial]] [[Imperialism\|empire~~]]. ~~This was widely supported by the people~~.~~{{Citation needed}} After taking office, Sankara, a~~ [[~~Socialism\|socialist~~]] and ~~[[Pan-Africanism\|Pan-Africanist]]~~, ~~immediately launched a plan to try~~ social ~~and economic changes on the African continent~~.		Sankara’s foreign policy was defined by [[anti-imperialism]], rejecting conditional aid from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank while advocating for debt reduction. Domestically, he focused on eradicating famine through food self-sufficiency and land reform, nationalizing land and mineral resources. His government prioritized [[education]] and public health, launching nationwide [[Literacy campaign\|literacy campaigns]] and vaccinating 2.5 million children for free. He also initiated greening projects to combat desertification in [[the Sahel]] and championed women’s liberation, promoting girls’ education and women’s social status.

	~~One such~~ social change ~~is that he led his country in changing the French colonial name of "~~[[~~Upper Volta~~]]~~" to "~~[[~~Burkina Faso~~]]~~" ("Land of Incorruptible People")~~ to ~~symbolize the country's autonomy~~ and ~~rebirth.<ref>{{Web citation\|author=Hubert Jules Deschamps\|newspaper=Encyclopedia Britannica\|title=Burkina Faso\|date=2023-06~~-~~05\|url=https://www~~.~~britannica~~.~~com/place/Burkina-Faso\|archive-url=https://web~~.~~archive.org/web/20190409175723/https://www.britannica.com/place/Burkina-Faso\|archive-date=2019-04-09}}</ref>~~		To achieve radical social change, Sankara suppressed [[Bourgeoisie\|bourgeois]] interests, banning reactionary [[Trade union\|trade unions]], and establishing People’s Revolutionary Courts to punish corrupt officials and counter-revolutionaries. He admired [[Fidel Castro]] and the [[Cuban Revolution]], and set the stage for a potential [[dictatorship of the proletariat]] had his rule lasted longer. Despite his short time in power, his policies significantly improved the lives of the Burkinabé people.

	Sankara~~'s foreign policy centered~~ on [[anti-imperialism]] and avoidance of [[Imperialism\|imperialist]] foreign aid and interference, mainly by the [[International Monetary Fund]] and the [[World Bank]]. It also promoted the reduction of foreign debt.{{Citation needed}}		Sankara was assassinated on October 15, 1987, in a coup led by his close friend [[Blaise Compaoré]], with suspected involvement from the French government and the [[Central Intelligence Agency\|CIA]]. A week before his death, Sankara famously declared: "While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas." His legacy endures as an icon of African self-reliance and anti-colonial resistance, inspiring subsequent generations despite his short four-year rule.<ref>{{Web citation\|author=Mathieu Bonkoungou\|newspaper=Reuters\|title=Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara\|date=2007-10-17\|url=https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712}}</ref>

	~~Sankara's domestic policies focused on eradication of famine with food self-sufficiency~~, ~~and [[land reform]]. His government gave emphasis to education and public health~~, ~~carried out literacy campaigns across the country and vaccinated 2.5 million children free of charge. His government also carried out greening projects to curb the growing desertification~~ in the Sahel and advocated [[Feminism\|women's liberation and freedom]], and improvements of women's social status. Sankara performed this work along with the [[nationalization]] of land and mineral resources.{{Citation needed}}

	~~In order to achieve radical social changes, he set the premises for~~ a [[dictatorship of the proletariat]] which suppressed [[Bourgeoisie\|bourgeois]] interests, banned [[Trade union\|trade unions]] (who were reactionary and a tool of the bourgeoisie in Burkina Faso), and punished corrupt officials and counter-revolutionaries through the [[People's Revolutionary Courts]]. He publicly admired [[Fidel Castro]]'s [[Cuban revolution\|Cuban Revolution]].{{Citation needed}}

	~~He was assassinated~~ by his close friend [[Blaise Compaoré]], with ~~possible~~ involvement from the French government and the [[Central Intelligence Agency\|CIA]]. A week before his ~~assassination~~, Sankara declared: "While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas".<ref>https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712 ~~Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara] by Mathieu Bonkoungou, ''Reuters'', 17 October 2007.~~</ref>

	== Policies ==		== Policies ==

General-KJ: Categories and formatting

2026-02-03T12:59:34Z

Categories and formatting

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:59, 3 February 2026
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	\| caption = Portrait of Comrade Sankara		\| caption = Portrait of Comrade Sankara
	\| nationality = [[Burkina Faso\|Burkinabé]]		\| nationality = [[Burkina Faso\|Burkinabé]]
	\|political_party=\| birth_name = Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara		\|political_orientation=[[Marxism–Leninism]]<br>[[African socialism]]<br>[[Pan-Africanism]]<br>[[Anti-imperialism]]\|political_party=\| birth_name = Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara
	\| birth_date = 21 December 1949		\| birth_date = 21 December 1949
	\| birth_place = Yako, [[Upper volta\|Upper Volta]]		\| birth_place = Yako, [[Upper volta\|Upper Volta]]
	\| death_date = 15 October 1987		\| death_date = 15 October 1987 (aged 37)
	\| death_place = Ouagadougou, [[Burkina Faso]]		\| death_place = Ouagadougou, [[Burkina Faso]]
	\| death_cause = Assassination		\| death_cause = Assassination
	~~\| political_line = [[Marxism–Leninism]]<br>[[African socialism]]<br>[[Pan-Africanism]]<br>[[Anti-imperialism]]~~
	}}		}}
	'''Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara''', generally known as '''Thomas Sankara''', was a Burkinabé [[Marxist–Leninist]] military officer, revolutionary and political leader who ~~was~~ President of [[Burkina Faso]] from 1983 until his assassination in a [[Counterrevolution\|counter-revolution]] in 1987. He was often referred to as the "[[Che Guevara]] of [[Africa]]".<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712 Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara] by Mathieu Bonkoungou, ''[[Reuters]]'', 17 October 2007</ref><ref name="Thomas Sankara Speaks 2007, pg 11">''Thomas Sankara Speaks: the Burkina Faso Revolution: 1983–87'', by Thomas Sankara, edited by Michel Prairie; Pathfinder, 2007, pg 11</ref><ref>[https://archive.is/20120702213957/http://static.rnw.nl/migratie/www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/071015-Burkina-Faso-Sankara-redirected "Thomas Sankara, Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''[[Radio Netherlands Worldwide]]'', 15 October 2007.</ref><ref>[http://sarahgoyens.blogspot.com/2009/01/africas-che-guevara.html "Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''Sarah in Burkina Faso''.</ref>		'''Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara''', generally known as '''Thomas Sankara''', was a [[Burkina Faso\|Burkinabé]] [[Marxist–Leninist]] military officer, revolutionary and political leader who served as [[President of Burkina Faso]] from 1983 until his assassination in a [[Counterrevolution\|counter-revolution]] in 1987. He was often referred to as the "[[Che Guevara]] of [[Africa]]".<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712 Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara] by Mathieu Bonkoungou, ''[[Reuters]]'', 17 October 2007</ref><ref name="Thomas Sankara Speaks 2007, pg 11">''Thomas Sankara Speaks: the Burkina Faso Revolution: 1983–87'', by Thomas Sankara, edited by Michel Prairie; Pathfinder, 2007, pg 11</ref><ref>[https://archive.is/20120702213957/http://static.rnw.nl/migratie/www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/071015-Burkina-Faso-Sankara-redirected "Thomas Sankara, Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''[[Radio Netherlands Worldwide]]'', 15 October 2007.</ref><ref>[http://sarahgoyens.blogspot.com/2009/01/africas-che-guevara.html "Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''Sarah in Burkina Faso''.</ref>

	In 1983, Sankara seized power in a military [[coup d'état]], the [[Burkinabé Revolution\|August Fourth Revolution]], and set about eliminating corruption and the influence of the former [[French Republic\|French]] [[Colonialism\|colonial]] [[Imperialism\|empire]]. This was widely supported by the people.{{Citation needed}} After taking office, Sankara, a [[Socialism\|socialist]] and [[Pan-Africanism\|Pan-Africanist]], immediately launched a plan to try social and economic changes on the African continent.		In 1983, Sankara seized power in a military [[coup d'état]], the [[Burkinabé Revolution\|August Fourth Revolution]], and set about eliminating corruption and the influence of the former [[French Republic\|French]] [[Colonialism\|colonial]] [[Imperialism\|empire]]. This was widely supported by the people.{{Citation needed}} After taking office, Sankara, a [[Socialism\|socialist]] and [[Pan-Africanism\|Pan-Africanist]], immediately launched a plan to try social and economic changes on the African continent.
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	== References ==		== References ==
	<references />		<references />
			[[Category:1949 births]]
			[[Category:1987 deaths]]
			[[Category:Communist leaders]]
			[[Category:Communists]]
			[[Category:Featured page]]
	[[Category:Marxist-Leninists]]		[[Category:Marxist-Leninists]]
			[[Category:Presidents of Burkina Faso]]
			[[Category:Prime ministers of Burkina Faso]]
	[[Category:Revolutionaries]]		[[Category:Revolutionaries]]
	[[Category:Victims of assassination]]		[[Category:Victims of assassination]]
	~~[[Category:Communist leaders]]~~
	~~[[Category:Communists]]~~
	~~[[Category:Leaders]]~~
	~~[[Category:Featured page]]~~

Ledlecreeper27: /* Assassination */

2024-12-27T14:28:16Z

Assassination

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	== Assassination ==		== Assassination ==
	On 15 October 1987, shortly after Sankara began a meeting with a cabinet, a group of soldiers including Compaoré, future Defense Minister [[Guengère]], and future head of state [[Gilbert Diendéré]], rushed into the room. Compaoré then shot and killed Sankara.<ref name=":0">{{Web citation\|author=Jeremy Kuzmarov\|newspaper=[[CovertAction Magazine]]\|title=This Man Pulled the Trigger, But Did the CIA and DGSE Put the Idea in His Head and the Gun in His Hand?\|date=2022-04-29\|url=https://covertactionmagazine.com/2022/04/29/this-man-pulled-the-trigger-but-did-the-cia-and-dgse-put-the-idea-in-his-head-and-the-gun-in-his-hand/\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241116064951/https://covertactionmagazine.com/2022/04/29/this-man-pulled-the-trigger-but-did-the-cia-and-dgse-put-the-idea-in-his-head-and-the-gun-in-his-hand/\|archive-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>		On 15 October 1987, shortly after Sankara began a meeting with a cabinet, a group of soldiers including Compaoré, future Defense Minister [[Guengère]], and future head of state [[Gilbert Diendéré]], rushed into the room. Compaoré then shot and killed Sankara and twelve of his associates. [[Halouna Traoré]] was the only survivor.<ref name=":0">{{Web citation\|author=Jeremy Kuzmarov\|newspaper=[[CovertAction Magazine]]\|title=This Man Pulled the Trigger, But Did the CIA and DGSE Put the Idea in His Head and the Gun in His Hand?\|date=2022-04-29\|url=https://covertactionmagazine.com/2022/04/29/this-man-pulled-the-trigger-but-did-the-cia-and-dgse-put-the-idea-in-his-head-and-the-gun-in-his-hand/\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241116064951/https://covertactionmagazine.com/2022/04/29/this-man-pulled-the-trigger-but-did-the-cia-and-dgse-put-the-idea-in-his-head-and-the-gun-in-his-hand/\|archive-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>

	Compaoré immediately reversed the nationalizations, overturned nearly all of Sankara's policies, rejoined the International Monetary Fund and [[The World Bank\|World Bank]] to bring in "desperately needed" funds to restore the "shattered" economy and ultimately spurned most of Sankara's legacy. Compaoré's [[dictatorship]] remained in power for 27 years until it was overthrown by popular protests in 2014. This has led many to suspect foreign involvment in the coup, particularly from the French government.		Compaoré immediately reversed the nationalizations, overturned nearly all of Sankara's policies, rejoined the International Monetary Fund and [[The World Bank\|World Bank]] to bring in "desperately needed" funds to restore the "shattered" economy and ultimately spurned most of Sankara's legacy. Compaoré's [[dictatorship]] remained in power for 27 years until it was overthrown by popular protests in 2014. This has led many to suspect foreign involvment in the coup, particularly from the French government.

Ledlecreeper27: /* Assassination */

2024-12-25T22:27:22Z

Assassination

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:27, 25 December 2024
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	== Assassination ==		== Assassination ==
	On 15 October 1987, Sankara ~~was killed by an armed~~ group ~~in a~~ [[~~coup d'état~~]] ~~led by his close friend~~ [[~~Blaise~~ Compaoré]].		On 15 October 1987, shortly after Sankara began a meeting with a cabinet, a group of soldiers including Compaoré, future Defense Minister [[Guengère]], and future head of state [[Gilbert Diendéré]], rushed into the room. Compaoré then shot and killed Sankara.<ref name=":0">{{Web citation\|author=Jeremy Kuzmarov\|newspaper=[[CovertAction Magazine]]\|title=This Man Pulled the Trigger, But Did the CIA and DGSE Put the Idea in His Head and the Gun in His Hand?\|date=2022-04-29\|url=https://covertactionmagazine.com/2022/04/29/this-man-pulled-the-trigger-but-did-the-cia-and-dgse-put-the-idea-in-his-head-and-the-gun-in-his-hand/\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241116064951/https://covertactionmagazine.com/2022/04/29/this-man-pulled-the-trigger-but-did-the-cia-and-dgse-put-the-idea-in-his-head-and-the-gun-in-his-hand/\|archive-date=2024-11-16}}</ref>

	Compaoré immediately reversed the nationalizations, overturned nearly all of Sankara's policies, rejoined the International Monetary Fund and [[The World Bank\|World Bank]] to bring in "desperately needed" funds to restore the "shattered" economy and ultimately spurned most of Sankara's legacy. Compaoré's [[dictatorship]] remained in power for 27 years until it was overthrown by popular protests in 2014. This has led many to suspect foreign involvment in the coup, particularly from the French government.		Compaoré immediately reversed the nationalizations, overturned nearly all of Sankara's policies, rejoined the International Monetary Fund and [[The World Bank\|World Bank]] to bring in "desperately needed" funds to restore the "shattered" economy and ultimately spurned most of Sankara's legacy. Compaoré's [[dictatorship]] remained in power for 27 years until it was overthrown by popular protests in 2014. This has led many to suspect foreign involvment in the coup, particularly from the French government.

	In February 2020, French member of parliament [[André Chassaigne]] ([[French Communist Party\|PCF]]) formally asked to open a commission of inquiry into Sankara's death and France's possible involvement<ref>http://www.thomassankara.net/french-mp-demands-inquiry-into-murder-of-burkina-faso-president-sankara/?lang=en</ref>.		=== Investigation ===
			The results of Sankara's autopsy were finally released in 2015 and showed that Sankara had been shot with his hands up.<ref name=":0" />

			In February 2020, French member of parliament [[André Chassaigne]] ([[French Communist Party\|PCF]]) formally asked to open a commission of inquiry into Sankara's death and France's possible involvement.<ref>http://www.thomassankara.net/french-mp-demands-inquiry-into-murder-of-burkina-faso-president-sankara/?lang=en</ref>

	In 2021, a trial was started against Blaise Compaoré (then in exile). In April 2022, a verdict was rendered and Compaoré was found guilty of "attack on state security", "concealment of a corpse" "and complicity in a murder". He was sentenced to life in prison along with two more accomplices.<ref>{{Web citation\|newspaper=Africa News\|title=Former president Compaoré sentenced to life in Sankara trial\|date=2022-04-06\|url=https://www.africanews.com/2022/04/06/former-president-compaore-sentenced-to-life-in-sankara-trial/}}</ref>		In 2021, a trial was started against Blaise Compaoré (then in exile). In April 2022, a verdict was rendered and Compaoré was found guilty of "attack on state security", "concealment of a corpse" "and complicity in a murder". He was sentenced to life in prison along with two more accomplices.<ref>{{Web citation\|newspaper=Africa News\|title=Former president Compaoré sentenced to life in Sankara trial\|date=2022-04-06\|url=https://www.africanews.com/2022/04/06/former-president-compaore-sentenced-to-life-in-sankara-trial/}}</ref>

CriticalResist: Moving picture for new homepage as a test

2024-09-24T18:19:19Z

Moving picture for new homepage as a test

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:19, 24 September 2024
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	Sankara's foreign policy centered on [[anti-imperialism]] and avoidance of [[Imperialism\|imperialist]] foreign aid and interference, mainly by the [[International Monetary Fund]] and the [[World Bank]]. It also promoted the reduction of foreign debt.{{Citation needed}}		Sankara's foreign policy centered on [[anti-imperialism]] and avoidance of [[Imperialism\|imperialist]] foreign aid and interference, mainly by the [[International Monetary Fund]] and the [[World Bank]]. It also promoted the reduction of foreign debt.{{Citation needed}}

	Sankara's domestic policies focused on eradication of famine with food self-sufficiency, and [[land reform]]. His government gave emphasis to education and public health, carried out literacy campaigns across the country and vaccinated 2.5 million children free of charge. His government also carried out greening projects to curb the growing desertification in the Sahel and advocated [[Feminism\|women's liberation and freedom]], and improvements of women's social status. Sankara performed this work along with the [[nationalization]] of land and mineral resources.{{Citation needed}}~~[[File:6285646.image.jpg\|thumb\|Mural representing Thomas Sankara in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso]]~~In order to achieve radical social changes, he set the premises for a [[dictatorship of the proletariat]] which suppressed [[Bourgeoisie\|bourgeois]] interests, banned [[Trade union\|trade unions]] (who were reactionary and a tool of the bourgeoisie in Burkina Faso), and punished corrupt officials and counter-revolutionaries through the [[People's Revolutionary Courts]]. He publicly admired [[Fidel Castro]]'s [[Cuban revolution\|Cuban Revolution]].{{Citation needed}}		Sankara's domestic policies focused on eradication of famine with food self-sufficiency, and [[land reform]]. His government gave emphasis to education and public health, carried out literacy campaigns across the country and vaccinated 2.5 million children free of charge. His government also carried out greening projects to curb the growing desertification in the Sahel and advocated [[Feminism\|women's liberation and freedom]], and improvements of women's social status. Sankara performed this work along with the [[nationalization]] of land and mineral resources.{{Citation needed}}

			In order to achieve radical social changes, he set the premises for a [[dictatorship of the proletariat]] which suppressed [[Bourgeoisie\|bourgeois]] interests, banned [[Trade union\|trade unions]] (who were reactionary and a tool of the bourgeoisie in Burkina Faso), and punished corrupt officials and counter-revolutionaries through the [[People's Revolutionary Courts]]. He publicly admired [[Fidel Castro]]'s [[Cuban revolution\|Cuban Revolution]].{{Citation needed}}

	He was assassinated by his close friend [[Blaise Compaoré]], with possible involvement from the French government and the [[Central Intelligence Agency\|CIA]]. A week before his assassination, Sankara declared: "While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas".<ref>https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712 Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara] by Mathieu Bonkoungou, ''Reuters'', 17 October 2007.</ref>		He was assassinated by his close friend [[Blaise Compaoré]], with possible involvement from the French government and the [[Central Intelligence Agency\|CIA]]. A week before his assassination, Sankara declared: "While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas".<ref>https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712 Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara] by Mathieu Bonkoungou, ''Reuters'', 17 October 2007.</ref>

	== Policies ==		== Policies ==
	In his 4 years as President of Burkina Faso, Sankara conducted a policy of anti-imperialism aimed at restoring sovereignty over his country. This began by calling out the [[International Monetary Fund]] and their African loans as imperialism, and calling for a [[Pan-Africanism\|pan-African]] [[Socialism\|socialist]] union.		[[File:6285646.image.jpg\|thumb\|Mural representing Thomas Sankara in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso]]In his 4 years as President of Burkina Faso, Sankara conducted a policy of anti-imperialism aimed at restoring sovereignty over his country. This began by calling out the [[International Monetary Fund]] and their African loans as imperialism, and calling for a [[Pan-Africanism\|pan-African]] [[Socialism\|socialist]] union.

	He also led extensive national campaigns, some of which include:		He also led extensive national campaigns, some of which include:

CriticalResist at 10:16, 23 September 2024

2024-09-23T10:16:05Z

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	[[Category:Communists]]		[[Category:Communists]]
	[[Category:Leaders]]		[[Category:Leaders]]
			[[Category:Featured page]]

TDM at 04:24, 17 September 2023

2023-09-17T04:24:08Z

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	\| death_place = Ouagadougou, [[Burkina Faso]]		\| death_place = Ouagadougou, [[Burkina Faso]]
	\| death_cause = Assassination		\| death_cause = Assassination
	\| political_line = [[Marxism–Leninism]]<br>[[African socialism]]<br>[[~~Anti~~-~~imperialism~~]]<br>[[~~Pan~~-~~Africanism~~]]		\| political_line = [[Marxism–Leninism]]<br>[[African socialism]]<br>[[Pan-Africanism]]<br>[[Anti-imperialism]]
	}}		}}
	'''Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara''', generally known as '''Thomas Sankara''', was a Burkinabé [[Marxist–Leninist]] military officer, revolutionary and political leader who was President of [[Burkina Faso]] from 1983 until his assassination in a [[Counterrevolution\|counter-revolution]] in 1987. He was often referred to as the "[[Che Guevara]] of [[Africa]]".<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712 Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara] by Mathieu Bonkoungou, ''[[Reuters]]'', 17 October 2007</ref><ref name="Thomas Sankara Speaks 2007, pg 11">''Thomas Sankara Speaks: the Burkina Faso Revolution: 1983–87'', by Thomas Sankara, edited by Michel Prairie; Pathfinder, 2007, pg 11</ref><ref>[https://archive.is/20120702213957/http://static.rnw.nl/migratie/www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/071015-Burkina-Faso-Sankara-redirected "Thomas Sankara, Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''[[Radio Netherlands Worldwide]]'', 15 October 2007.</ref><ref>[http://sarahgoyens.blogspot.com/2009/01/africas-che-guevara.html "Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''Sarah in Burkina Faso''.</ref>		'''Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara''', generally known as '''Thomas Sankara''', was a Burkinabé [[Marxist–Leninist]] military officer, revolutionary and political leader who was President of [[Burkina Faso]] from 1983 until his assassination in a [[Counterrevolution\|counter-revolution]] in 1987. He was often referred to as the "[[Che Guevara]] of [[Africa]]".<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712 Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara] by Mathieu Bonkoungou, ''[[Reuters]]'', 17 October 2007</ref><ref name="Thomas Sankara Speaks 2007, pg 11">''Thomas Sankara Speaks: the Burkina Faso Revolution: 1983–87'', by Thomas Sankara, edited by Michel Prairie; Pathfinder, 2007, pg 11</ref><ref>[https://archive.is/20120702213957/http://static.rnw.nl/migratie/www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/071015-Burkina-Faso-Sankara-redirected "Thomas Sankara, Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''[[Radio Netherlands Worldwide]]'', 15 October 2007.</ref><ref>[http://sarahgoyens.blogspot.com/2009/01/africas-che-guevara.html "Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''Sarah in Burkina Faso''.</ref>

TDM: Minor edits and tweaks

2023-09-14T23:11:03Z

Minor edits and tweaks

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:11, 14 September 2023
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	\| death_place = Ouagadougou, [[Burkina Faso]]		\| death_place = Ouagadougou, [[Burkina Faso]]
	\| death_cause = Assassination		\| death_cause = Assassination
	\| political_line = [[Marxism–Leninism]]<br>[[Anti-imperialism]]<br>[[Pan-Africanism]]		\| political_line = [[Marxism–Leninism]]<br>[[African socialism]]<br>[[Anti-imperialism]]<br>[[Pan-Africanism]]
	}}		}}
	'''Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara''', generally known as '''Thomas Sankara''', was a [[~~Marxism-leninism\|~~Marxist–Leninist]] ~~Burkinabé~~ military officer, revolutionary and political leader who was President of [[Burkina Faso]] from 1983 until his assassination in 1987. He was often referred to as the "[[Che Guevara]] of [[Africa]]".<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712 Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara] by Mathieu Bonkoungou, ''[[Reuters]]'', 17 October 2007</ref><ref name="Thomas Sankara Speaks 2007, pg 11">''Thomas Sankara Speaks: the Burkina Faso Revolution: 1983–87'', by Thomas Sankara, edited by Michel Prairie; Pathfinder, 2007, pg 11</ref><ref>[https://archive.is/20120702213957/http://static.rnw.nl/migratie/www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/071015-Burkina-Faso-Sankara-redirected "Thomas Sankara, Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''[[Radio Netherlands Worldwide]]'', 15 October 2007.</ref><ref>[http://sarahgoyens.blogspot.com/2009/01/africas-che-guevara.html "Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''Sarah in Burkina Faso''.</ref>		'''Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara''', generally known as '''Thomas Sankara''', was a Burkinabé [[Marxist–Leninist]] military officer, revolutionary and political leader who was President of [[Burkina Faso]] from 1983 until his assassination in a [[Counterrevolution\|counter-revolution]] in 1987. He was often referred to as the "[[Che Guevara]] of [[Africa]]".<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712 Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara] by Mathieu Bonkoungou, ''[[Reuters]]'', 17 October 2007</ref><ref name="Thomas Sankara Speaks 2007, pg 11">''Thomas Sankara Speaks: the Burkina Faso Revolution: 1983–87'', by Thomas Sankara, edited by Michel Prairie; Pathfinder, 2007, pg 11</ref><ref>[https://archive.is/20120702213957/http://static.rnw.nl/migratie/www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/071015-Burkina-Faso-Sankara-redirected "Thomas Sankara, Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''[[Radio Netherlands Worldwide]]'', 15 October 2007.</ref><ref>[http://sarahgoyens.blogspot.com/2009/01/africas-che-guevara.html "Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''Sarah in Burkina Faso''.</ref>

	In 1983, Sankara seized power in a military [[coup d'état]], the [[Burkinabé Revolution\|August Fourth Revolution]], and set about eliminating corruption and the influence of the former [[French Republic\|French]] [[Colonialism\|colonial]] [[Imperialism\|empire]]. This was widely supported by the people.{{Citation needed}} After taking office, Sankara, a [[Socialism\|socialist]] and [[Pan-Africanism\|Pan-Africanist]], immediately launched a plan to try social and economic changes on the African continent.		In 1983, Sankara seized power in a military [[coup d'état]], the [[Burkinabé Revolution\|August Fourth Revolution]], and set about eliminating corruption and the influence of the former [[French Republic\|French]] [[Colonialism\|colonial]] [[Imperialism\|empire]]. This was widely supported by the people.{{Citation needed}} After taking office, Sankara, a [[Socialism\|socialist]] and [[Pan-Africanism\|Pan-Africanist]], immediately launched a plan to try social and economic changes on the African continent.
Line 22:		Line 22:
	Sankara's foreign policy centered on [[anti-imperialism]] and avoidance of [[Imperialism\|imperialist]] foreign aid and interference, mainly by the [[International Monetary Fund]] and the [[World Bank]]. It also promoted the reduction of foreign debt.{{Citation needed}}		Sankara's foreign policy centered on [[anti-imperialism]] and avoidance of [[Imperialism\|imperialist]] foreign aid and interference, mainly by the [[International Monetary Fund]] and the [[World Bank]]. It also promoted the reduction of foreign debt.{{Citation needed}}

	Sankara's domestic policies focused on eradication of famine with food self-sufficiency, and [[land reform]]. His government gave emphasis to education and public health, carried out literacy campaigns across the country and vaccinated 2.5 million children free of charge. His government also carried out greening projects to curb the growing desertification in the Sahel and advocated [[Feminism\|women's liberation and freedom]], and improvements of women's social status. Sankara performed this work along with the [[nationalization]] of land and mineral resources.{{Citation needed}}[[File:6285646.image.jpg\|thumb\|Mural representing Thomas Sankara in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso]]In order to achieve radical social changes, he set the premises for a [[dictatorship of the proletariat]] which suppressed [[Bourgeoisie\|bourgeois]] interests, banned [[Trade union\|trade unions]] (who were reactionary and a tool of the bourgeoisie in Burkina Faso), and punished corrupt officials and ~~[[Counterrevolution\|~~counter-revolutionaries]] through the [[People's Revolutionary Courts]]. He publicly admired [[Fidel Castro]]'s [[Cuban revolution\|Cuban Revolution]].{{Citation needed}}		Sankara's domestic policies focused on eradication of famine with food self-sufficiency, and [[land reform]]. His government gave emphasis to education and public health, carried out literacy campaigns across the country and vaccinated 2.5 million children free of charge. His government also carried out greening projects to curb the growing desertification in the Sahel and advocated [[Feminism\|women's liberation and freedom]], and improvements of women's social status. Sankara performed this work along with the [[nationalization]] of land and mineral resources.{{Citation needed}}[[File:6285646.image.jpg\|thumb\|Mural representing Thomas Sankara in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso]]In order to achieve radical social changes, he set the premises for a [[dictatorship of the proletariat]] which suppressed [[Bourgeoisie\|bourgeois]] interests, banned [[Trade union\|trade unions]] (who were reactionary and a tool of the bourgeoisie in Burkina Faso), and punished corrupt officials and counter-revolutionaries through the [[People's Revolutionary Courts]]. He publicly admired [[Fidel Castro]]'s [[Cuban revolution\|Cuban Revolution]].{{Citation needed}}

	He was assassinated by his close friend [[Blaise Compaoré]], with possible involvement from the French government and the [[Central Intelligence Agency\|CIA]]. A week before his assassination, Sankara declared: "While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas".<ref>https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712 Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara] by Mathieu Bonkoungou, ''Reuters'', 17 October 2007.</ref>		He was assassinated by his close friend [[Blaise Compaoré]], with possible involvement from the French government and the [[Central Intelligence Agency\|CIA]]. A week before his assassination, Sankara declared: "While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas".<ref>https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712 Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara] by Mathieu Bonkoungou, ''Reuters'', 17 October 2007.</ref>

TDM: Minor edits and tweaks

2023-09-14T03:55:06Z

Minor edits and tweaks

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:55, 14 September 2023
Line 12:		Line 12:
	\| death_place = Ouagadougou, [[Burkina Faso]]		\| death_place = Ouagadougou, [[Burkina Faso]]
	\| death_cause = Assassination		\| death_cause = Assassination
	\| political_line = [[Marxism–Leninism]]		\| political_line = [[Marxism–Leninism]]<br>[[Anti-imperialism]]<br>[[Pan-Africanism]]
	}}		}}
	'''Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara''', generally known as '''Thomas Sankara''', was a [[Marxism-leninism\|Marxist–Leninist]] Burkinabé military officer and political leader who was ~~elected~~ President of [[Burkina Faso]] ~~(then Upper Volta, an ex-French colony)~~ from 1983 to 1987 ~~after a coup~~. He was often referred to as the "[[Che Guevara]] of [[Africa]]".<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712 Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara] by Mathieu Bonkoungou, ''[[Reuters]]'', 17 October 2007</ref><ref name="Thomas Sankara Speaks 2007, pg 11">''Thomas Sankara Speaks: the Burkina Faso Revolution: 1983–87'', by Thomas Sankara, edited by Michel Prairie; Pathfinder, 2007, pg 11</ref><ref>[https://archive.is/20120702213957/http://static.rnw.nl/migratie/www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/071015-Burkina-Faso-Sankara-redirected "Thomas Sankara, Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''[[Radio Netherlands Worldwide]]'', 15 October 2007.</ref><ref>[http://sarahgoyens.blogspot.com/2009/01/africas-che-guevara.html "Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''Sarah in Burkina Faso''.</ref>		'''Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara''', generally known as '''Thomas Sankara''', was a [[Marxism-leninism\|Marxist–Leninist]] Burkinabé military officer, revolutionary and political leader who was President of [[Burkina Faso]] from 1983 until his assassination in 1987. He was often referred to as the "[[Che Guevara]] of [[Africa]]".<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712 Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara] by Mathieu Bonkoungou, ''[[Reuters]]'', 17 October 2007</ref><ref name="Thomas Sankara Speaks 2007, pg 11">''Thomas Sankara Speaks: the Burkina Faso Revolution: 1983–87'', by Thomas Sankara, edited by Michel Prairie; Pathfinder, 2007, pg 11</ref><ref>[https://archive.is/20120702213957/http://static.rnw.nl/migratie/www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/071015-Burkina-Faso-Sankara-redirected "Thomas Sankara, Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''[[Radio Netherlands Worldwide]]'', 15 October 2007.</ref><ref>[http://sarahgoyens.blogspot.com/2009/01/africas-che-guevara.html "Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''Sarah in Burkina Faso''.</ref>

	In 1983, Sankara ~~launched~~ the [[Burkinabé Revolution\|August Fourth Revolution]] ~~to seize power with the goal of~~ eliminating corruption and the influence of the former [[French Republic\|French]] [[Colonialism\|colonial]] [[Imperialism\|empire]]. This was widely supported by the people.{{Citation needed}} After taking office, Sankara immediately launched a plan to try social and economic changes on the African continent.		In 1983, Sankara seized power in a military [[coup d'état]], the [[Burkinabé Revolution\|August Fourth Revolution]], and set about eliminating corruption and the influence of the former [[French Republic\|French]] [[Colonialism\|colonial]] [[Imperialism\|empire]]. This was widely supported by the people.{{Citation needed}} After taking office, Sankara, a [[Socialism\|socialist]] and [[Pan-Africanism\|Pan-Africanist]], immediately launched a plan to try social and economic changes on the African continent.

	One such social change is that he led his country in changing the French colonial name of "[[Upper Volta]]" to "[[Burkina Faso]]" ("Land of Incorruptible People") to symbolize the country's autonomy and rebirth.<ref>{{Web citation\|author=Hubert Jules Deschamps\|newspaper=Encyclopedia Britannica\|title=Burkina Faso\|date=2023-06-05\|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Burkina-Faso\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409175723/https://www.britannica.com/place/Burkina-Faso\|archive-date=2019-04-09}}</ref>		One such social change is that he led his country in changing the French colonial name of "[[Upper Volta]]" to "[[Burkina Faso]]" ("Land of Incorruptible People") to symbolize the country's autonomy and rebirth.<ref>{{Web citation\|author=Hubert Jules Deschamps\|newspaper=Encyclopedia Britannica\|title=Burkina Faso\|date=2023-06-05\|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Burkina-Faso\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409175723/https://www.britannica.com/place/Burkina-Faso\|archive-date=2019-04-09}}</ref>
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	Sankara's foreign policy centered on [[anti-imperialism]] and avoidance of [[Imperialism\|imperialist]] foreign aid and interference, mainly by the [[International Monetary Fund]] and the [[World Bank]]. It also promoted the reduction of foreign debt.{{Citation needed}}		Sankara's foreign policy centered on [[anti-imperialism]] and avoidance of [[Imperialism\|imperialist]] foreign aid and interference, mainly by the [[International Monetary Fund]] and the [[World Bank]]. It also promoted the reduction of foreign debt.{{Citation needed}}

	Sankara's domestic policies focused on eradication of famine with food self-sufficiency, and [[land reform]]. His government gave emphasis to education and public health, carried out literacy campaigns across the country and vaccinated 2.5 million children free of charge. His government also carried out greening projects to curb the growing desertification in the Sahel and advocated [[Feminism\|women's liberation and freedom]], and improvements of women's social status. Sankara performed this work along with the [[nationalization]] of land and mineral resources.{{Citation needed}}[[File:6285646.image.jpg\|thumb\|Mural representing Thomas Sankara in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso]]In order to achieve radical social changes, he set the premises for a [[dictatorship of the proletariat]] which suppressed [[Bourgeoisie\|bourgeois]] interests, banned [[Trade union\|trade unions]] (who were reactionary and a tool of the bourgeoisie in Burkina Faso), punished corrupt officials, [[Counterrevolution\|counter-revolutionaries]]~~, and people who didn't want to work~~ through the [[People's Revolutionary Courts]]. He publicly admired [[Fidel Castro]]'s [[Cuban revolution]].{{Citation needed}}		Sankara's domestic policies focused on eradication of famine with food self-sufficiency, and [[land reform]]. His government gave emphasis to education and public health, carried out literacy campaigns across the country and vaccinated 2.5 million children free of charge. His government also carried out greening projects to curb the growing desertification in the Sahel and advocated [[Feminism\|women's liberation and freedom]], and improvements of women's social status. Sankara performed this work along with the [[nationalization]] of land and mineral resources.{{Citation needed}}[[File:6285646.image.jpg\|thumb\|Mural representing Thomas Sankara in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso]]In order to achieve radical social changes, he set the premises for a [[dictatorship of the proletariat]] which suppressed [[Bourgeoisie\|bourgeois]] interests, banned [[Trade union\|trade unions]] (who were reactionary and a tool of the bourgeoisie in Burkina Faso), and punished corrupt officials and [[Counterrevolution\|counter-revolutionaries]] through the [[People's Revolutionary Courts]]. He publicly admired [[Fidel Castro]]'s [[Cuban revolution\|Cuban Revolution]].{{Citation needed}}

	He was assassinated by his close friend [[Blaise Compaoré]], with possible involvement from the French government and the [[Central Intelligence Agency\|CIA]]. A week before his assassination, Sankara declared: "While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas".<ref>https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712 Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara] by Mathieu Bonkoungou, ''Reuters'', 17 October 2007.</ref>		He was assassinated by his close friend [[Blaise Compaoré]], with possible involvement from the French government and the [[Central Intelligence Agency\|CIA]]. A week before his assassination, Sankara declared: "While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas".<ref>https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712 Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara] by Mathieu Bonkoungou, ''Reuters'', 17 October 2007.</ref>

TDM: Added hyperlimk to Burkinabe Revolution

2023-09-14T00:44:22Z

Added hyperlimk to Burkinabe Revolution

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:44, 14 September 2023
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	\| caption = Portrait of Comrade Sankara		\| caption = Portrait of Comrade Sankara
	\| nationality = [[Burkina Faso\|Burkinabé]]		\| nationality = [[Burkina Faso\|Burkinabé]]
	\|political_party=~~[[African Independence Party]]~~\| birth_name = Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara		\|political_party=\| birth_name = Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara
	\| birth_date = 21 December 1949		\| birth_date = 21 December 1949
	\| birth_place = Yako, [[Upper volta\|Upper Volta]]		\| birth_place = Yako, [[Upper volta\|Upper Volta]]
Line 16:		Line 16:
	'''Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara''', generally known as '''Thomas Sankara''', was a [[Marxism-leninism\|Marxist–Leninist]] Burkinabé military officer and political leader who was elected President of [[Burkina Faso]] (then Upper Volta, an ex-French colony) from 1983 to 1987 after a coup. He was often referred to as the "[[Che Guevara]] of [[Africa]]".<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712 Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara] by Mathieu Bonkoungou, ''[[Reuters]]'', 17 October 2007</ref><ref name="Thomas Sankara Speaks 2007, pg 11">''Thomas Sankara Speaks: the Burkina Faso Revolution: 1983–87'', by Thomas Sankara, edited by Michel Prairie; Pathfinder, 2007, pg 11</ref><ref>[https://archive.is/20120702213957/http://static.rnw.nl/migratie/www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/071015-Burkina-Faso-Sankara-redirected "Thomas Sankara, Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''[[Radio Netherlands Worldwide]]'', 15 October 2007.</ref><ref>[http://sarahgoyens.blogspot.com/2009/01/africas-che-guevara.html "Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''Sarah in Burkina Faso''.</ref>		'''Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara''', generally known as '''Thomas Sankara''', was a [[Marxism-leninism\|Marxist–Leninist]] Burkinabé military officer and political leader who was elected President of [[Burkina Faso]] (then Upper Volta, an ex-French colony) from 1983 to 1987 after a coup. He was often referred to as the "[[Che Guevara]] of [[Africa]]".<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712 Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara] by Mathieu Bonkoungou, ''[[Reuters]]'', 17 October 2007</ref><ref name="Thomas Sankara Speaks 2007, pg 11">''Thomas Sankara Speaks: the Burkina Faso Revolution: 1983–87'', by Thomas Sankara, edited by Michel Prairie; Pathfinder, 2007, pg 11</ref><ref>[https://archive.is/20120702213957/http://static.rnw.nl/migratie/www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/071015-Burkina-Faso-Sankara-redirected "Thomas Sankara, Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''[[Radio Netherlands Worldwide]]'', 15 October 2007.</ref><ref>[http://sarahgoyens.blogspot.com/2009/01/africas-che-guevara.html "Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''Sarah in Burkina Faso''.</ref>

	In 1983, Sankara launched the [[August Fourth Revolution]] to seize power with the goal of eliminating corruption and the influence of the former [[French Republic\|French]] [[Colonialism\|colonial]] [[Imperialism\|empire]]. This was widely supported by the people.{{Citation needed}} After taking office, Sankara immediately launched a plan to try social and economic changes on the African continent.		In 1983, Sankara launched the [[Burkinabé Revolution\|August Fourth Revolution]] to seize power with the goal of eliminating corruption and the influence of the former [[French Republic\|French]] [[Colonialism\|colonial]] [[Imperialism\|empire]]. This was widely supported by the people.{{Citation needed}} After taking office, Sankara immediately launched a plan to try social and economic changes on the African continent.

	One such social change is that he led his country in changing the French colonial name of "[[Upper Volta]]" to "[[Burkina Faso]]" ("Land of Incorruptible People") to symbolize the country's autonomy and rebirth.<ref>{{Web citation\|author=Hubert Jules Deschamps\|newspaper=Encyclopedia Britannica\|title=Burkina Faso\|date=2023-06-05\|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Burkina-Faso\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409175723/https://www.britannica.com/place/Burkina-Faso\|archive-date=2019-04-09}}</ref>		One such social change is that he led his country in changing the French colonial name of "[[Upper Volta]]" to "[[Burkina Faso]]" ("Land of Incorruptible People") to symbolize the country's autonomy and rebirth.<ref>{{Web citation\|author=Hubert Jules Deschamps\|newspaper=Encyclopedia Britannica\|title=Burkina Faso\|date=2023-06-05\|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Burkina-Faso\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409175723/https://www.britannica.com/place/Burkina-Faso\|archive-date=2019-04-09}}</ref>

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:19, 24 September 2024
Line 22:		Line 22:
	Sankara's foreign policy centered on [[anti-imperialism]] and avoidance of [[Imperialism\|imperialist]] foreign aid and interference, mainly by the [[International Monetary Fund]] and the [[World Bank]]. It also promoted the reduction of foreign debt.{{Citation needed}}		Sankara's foreign policy centered on [[anti-imperialism]] and avoidance of [[Imperialism\|imperialist]] foreign aid and interference, mainly by the [[International Monetary Fund]] and the [[World Bank]]. It also promoted the reduction of foreign debt.{{Citation needed}}

	Sankara's domestic policies focused on eradication of famine with food self-sufficiency, and [[land reform]]. His government gave emphasis to education and public health, carried out literacy campaigns across the country and vaccinated 2.5 million children free of charge. His government also carried out greening projects to curb the growing desertification in the Sahel and advocated [[Feminism\|women's liberation and freedom]], and improvements of women's social status. Sankara performed this work along with the [[nationalization]] of land and mineral resources.{{Citation needed}}~~[[File:6285646.image.jpg\|thumb\|Mural representing Thomas Sankara in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso]]~~In order to achieve radical social changes, he set the premises for a [[dictatorship of the proletariat]] which suppressed [[Bourgeoisie\|bourgeois]] interests, banned [[Trade union\|trade unions]] (who were reactionary and a tool of the bourgeoisie in Burkina Faso), and punished corrupt officials and counter-revolutionaries through the [[People's Revolutionary Courts]]. He publicly admired [[Fidel Castro]]'s [[Cuban revolution\|Cuban Revolution]].{{Citation needed}}		Sankara's domestic policies focused on eradication of famine with food self-sufficiency, and [[land reform]]. His government gave emphasis to education and public health, carried out literacy campaigns across the country and vaccinated 2.5 million children free of charge. His government also carried out greening projects to curb the growing desertification in the Sahel and advocated [[Feminism\|women's liberation and freedom]], and improvements of women's social status. Sankara performed this work along with the [[nationalization]] of land and mineral resources.{{Citation needed}}

			In order to achieve radical social changes, he set the premises for a [[dictatorship of the proletariat]] which suppressed [[Bourgeoisie\|bourgeois]] interests, banned [[Trade union\|trade unions]] (who were reactionary and a tool of the bourgeoisie in Burkina Faso), and punished corrupt officials and counter-revolutionaries through the [[People's Revolutionary Courts]]. He publicly admired [[Fidel Castro]]'s [[Cuban revolution\|Cuban Revolution]].{{Citation needed}}

	He was assassinated by his close friend [[Blaise Compaoré]], with possible involvement from the French government and the [[Central Intelligence Agency\|CIA]]. A week before his assassination, Sankara declared: "While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas".<ref>https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712 Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara] by Mathieu Bonkoungou, ''Reuters'', 17 October 2007.</ref>		He was assassinated by his close friend [[Blaise Compaoré]], with possible involvement from the French government and the [[Central Intelligence Agency\|CIA]]. A week before his assassination, Sankara declared: "While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas".<ref>https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712 Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara] by Mathieu Bonkoungou, ''Reuters'', 17 October 2007.</ref>

	== Policies ==		== Policies ==
	In his 4 years as President of Burkina Faso, Sankara conducted a policy of anti-imperialism aimed at restoring sovereignty over his country. This began by calling out the [[International Monetary Fund]] and their African loans as imperialism, and calling for a [[Pan-Africanism\|pan-African]] [[Socialism\|socialist]] union.		[[File:6285646.image.jpg\|thumb\|Mural representing Thomas Sankara in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso]]In his 4 years as President of Burkina Faso, Sankara conducted a policy of anti-imperialism aimed at restoring sovereignty over his country. This began by calling out the [[International Monetary Fund]] and their African loans as imperialism, and calling for a [[Pan-Africanism\|pan-African]] [[Socialism\|socialist]] union.

	He also led extensive national campaigns, some of which include:		He also led extensive national campaigns, some of which include:

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:44, 14 September 2023
Line 6:		Line 6:
	\| caption = Portrait of Comrade Sankara		\| caption = Portrait of Comrade Sankara
	\| nationality = [[Burkina Faso\|Burkinabé]]		\| nationality = [[Burkina Faso\|Burkinabé]]
	\|political_party=~~[[African Independence Party]]~~\| birth_name = Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara		\|political_party=\| birth_name = Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara
	\| birth_date = 21 December 1949		\| birth_date = 21 December 1949
	\| birth_place = Yako, [[Upper volta\|Upper Volta]]		\| birth_place = Yako, [[Upper volta\|Upper Volta]]
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	'''Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara''', generally known as '''Thomas Sankara''', was a [[Marxism-leninism\|Marxist–Leninist]] Burkinabé military officer and political leader who was elected President of [[Burkina Faso]] (then Upper Volta, an ex-French colony) from 1983 to 1987 after a coup. He was often referred to as the "[[Che Guevara]] of [[Africa]]".<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712 Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara] by Mathieu Bonkoungou, ''[[Reuters]]'', 17 October 2007</ref><ref name="Thomas Sankara Speaks 2007, pg 11">''Thomas Sankara Speaks: the Burkina Faso Revolution: 1983–87'', by Thomas Sankara, edited by Michel Prairie; Pathfinder, 2007, pg 11</ref><ref>[https://archive.is/20120702213957/http://static.rnw.nl/migratie/www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/071015-Burkina-Faso-Sankara-redirected "Thomas Sankara, Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''[[Radio Netherlands Worldwide]]'', 15 October 2007.</ref><ref>[http://sarahgoyens.blogspot.com/2009/01/africas-che-guevara.html "Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''Sarah in Burkina Faso''.</ref>		'''Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara''', generally known as '''Thomas Sankara''', was a [[Marxism-leninism\|Marxist–Leninist]] Burkinabé military officer and political leader who was elected President of [[Burkina Faso]] (then Upper Volta, an ex-French colony) from 1983 to 1987 after a coup. He was often referred to as the "[[Che Guevara]] of [[Africa]]".<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL17577712 Burkina Faso Salutes "Africa's Che" Thomas Sankara] by Mathieu Bonkoungou, ''[[Reuters]]'', 17 October 2007</ref><ref name="Thomas Sankara Speaks 2007, pg 11">''Thomas Sankara Speaks: the Burkina Faso Revolution: 1983–87'', by Thomas Sankara, edited by Michel Prairie; Pathfinder, 2007, pg 11</ref><ref>[https://archive.is/20120702213957/http://static.rnw.nl/migratie/www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/071015-Burkina-Faso-Sankara-redirected "Thomas Sankara, Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''[[Radio Netherlands Worldwide]]'', 15 October 2007.</ref><ref>[http://sarahgoyens.blogspot.com/2009/01/africas-che-guevara.html "Africa's Che Guevara"] by ''Sarah in Burkina Faso''.</ref>

	In 1983, Sankara launched the [[August Fourth Revolution]] to seize power with the goal of eliminating corruption and the influence of the former [[French Republic\|French]] [[Colonialism\|colonial]] [[Imperialism\|empire]]. This was widely supported by the people.{{Citation needed}} After taking office, Sankara immediately launched a plan to try social and economic changes on the African continent.		In 1983, Sankara launched the [[Burkinabé Revolution\|August Fourth Revolution]] to seize power with the goal of eliminating corruption and the influence of the former [[French Republic\|French]] [[Colonialism\|colonial]] [[Imperialism\|empire]]. This was widely supported by the people.{{Citation needed}} After taking office, Sankara immediately launched a plan to try social and economic changes on the African continent.

	One such social change is that he led his country in changing the French colonial name of "[[Upper Volta]]" to "[[Burkina Faso]]" ("Land of Incorruptible People") to symbolize the country's autonomy and rebirth.<ref>{{Web citation\|author=Hubert Jules Deschamps\|newspaper=Encyclopedia Britannica\|title=Burkina Faso\|date=2023-06-05\|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Burkina-Faso\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409175723/https://www.britannica.com/place/Burkina-Faso\|archive-date=2019-04-09}}</ref>		One such social change is that he led his country in changing the French colonial name of "[[Upper Volta]]" to "[[Burkina Faso]]" ("Land of Incorruptible People") to symbolize the country's autonomy and rebirth.<ref>{{Web citation\|author=Hubert Jules Deschamps\|newspaper=Encyclopedia Britannica\|title=Burkina Faso\|date=2023-06-05\|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Burkina-Faso\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409175723/https://www.britannica.com/place/Burkina-Faso\|archive-date=2019-04-09}}</ref>