Thomas Sankara

A revolutionary leader who transformed Burkina Faso through radical social and economic reforms.

Thomas Sankara (1949–1987), often called the 'Che Guevara of Africa', became President of Burkina Faso in 1983 and initiated groundbreaking changes in just four years. His policies focused on self-reliance, anti-imperialism, and social justice. Sankara renamed the country from Upper Volta to Burkina Faso ('Land of Upright People') to shed colonial legacy.

He launched mass vaccination campaigns, built railways without foreign aid, and promoted women's rights by banning forced marriages and appointing women to high-ranking positions. Sankara also prioritized environmental sustainability, planting over 10 million trees to combat desertification. His anti-corruption stance led him to sell government luxury cars and live on a modest salary.

Despite his assassination in 1987, Sankara's legacy inspires pan-African movements. His speeches critiquing neocolonialism remain influential, as seen in the 2022 Burkinabé uprising.