Thomas Sankara
The story of Thomas Sankara will remain evergreen in the history of Burkina Faso as one of the greatest leaders who lived for the downtrodden and whose character was impeccable. Born in 1949, Sankara became an epochal military officer and propagator of Pan-Africanism. He developed this nationalistic outlook from Madagascar and France where he attended a parachute academy and became exposed to left-wing political ideologies. He was a decent military officer which endeared him to all in Burkina Faso. He was useful in several official positions in government but his hard stance against corruption got him in trouble with the powers that be. He became the President of Upper Volta now Burkina Faso through a military coup led by his friend and ally Blaise Compaore. As President, he initiated people-oriented programs and became so popular into a globally known public figure. Internal conflict in the country led to his assassination in 1987 in a coup led also by his friend and ally Blaise Compaore.
