in Depth

Burkina Faso’s Thomas Sankara: Who killed ‘Africa’s Che Guevara’?

As the trial for Burkina Faso’s Thomas Sankara gets underway, we look back at the long road taken to get to this point, starting from his assassination on 15 October 1987.

Thomas Sankara, president of Burkina Faso on 7 February 1986 in Paris.

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date set

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Burkina Faso: Sankara’s trial to proceed … without Compaoré Burkina Faso’s military prosecutor has announced the opening of a trial of the alleged killers of former President Thomas Sankara and his companions i...

© Thomas Sankara in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, February 26, 1987. Archives Jeune Afrique-REA

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compaoré complicity

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Burkina Faso: Why was Thomas Sankara murdered? Earlier this month a court in Burkina Faso’s capital indicted former President Blaise Compaoré for his role in the murder of his comrade, Thomas Sanka...

© Captain Thomas Sankara and journalist Sennen Andriamirado in Paris in 1986. Pascal Maitre/Archives JA

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final act

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Thomas Sankara: last moments, last witnesses, last secrets… On the 15th of October 1987, the leader of the Burkinabe revolution was assassinated. Two years later, Sennen Andriamirado, editor-in-chief of Jeune A...

Former Burkinabe president Blaise Compaoré in Milan, 2012. Luca Bruno/AP/SIPA

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Trials and tribulations

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Can former president Compaoré’s trial help to reconcile Burkina Faso? Will justice finally be served to those responsible for the assassination of Burkina Faso’s former president Thomas Sankara and his allies?

People hold pictures showing former president Thomas Sankara and PM Isaac Zida during funeral service for six people killed during popular uprising of October 30 and 31 in Ouagadougou

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hero perspectives

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“Thomas Sankara had two faces” – Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo “I don’t dispute Thomas Sankara’s record. I’m saying there have been good things and bad things.”

Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo, when he was President of the Upper Volta, in 1983 (archives). © RR / Youtube screenshot

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prison diary

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Former Burkinabe President to tell all about Sankara and Compaoré

From left to right: Blaise Compaoré, Thomas Sankara and Jean-Baptiste Lingani, 4 August 4 1983, the day Sankara came to power © Archives Jeune Afrique

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waiting for justice

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Burkina Faso: Sankara family lawyers push for Compaoré’s extradition Lawyers for the family of murdered Burkinabé revolutionary Thomas Sankara say they will push for the extradition of former president Blaise Compaoré.

imageExclusive-Compaore_TAR_732x419 Blaise Compaoré’s inner circle. ©

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Destination: Home

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Burkina Faso: A who’s who of former president Compaoré’s faithful allies Burkina Faso’s former president Blaise Compaoré is planning to return home soon. Several of his colleagues in Ouagadougou and those in exile in Abidja...

President of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaore at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York © Burkina Faso former president Blaise Compaore in New York September 26, 2013. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

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Burkina Faso’s Blaise Campaore says his last word Blaise Campaore’s 27 year rule was brought to an eventful end after unrelenting demonstrations against a bid to extend his reign as president of Burki...

jad20210923-enquete-sankara-accuses-2-592×296-1633847910 © Blaise Compaoré, 18 September 2012, Paris.

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in absentia

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Sankara murder: Key defendant Blaise Compaoré enjoys life in exile, dodges trial The three accused: Blaise Compaoré, Gilbert Diendéré and Hyacinthe Kafando are at the heart of the trial for the assassination of Thomas Sankara which...

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