Contents
Thomas Sankara
Leading Burkina Faso’s revolutionary government and promoting self-reliance and social reform.
Vaccination campaign · Women’s participation
- Born
- 21 December 1949
- Birthplace
- Yako, present-day Burkina Faso
- Died
- 15 October 1987
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Thomas Sankara was a military officer and political leader who governed from 1983 until his assassination in 1987.
Early life
Upper Volta childhood
Grew up in what was then a French colony.
Military training
Trained as an officer, including a period in Madagascar.
Career
- 1983
Prime minister
Served briefly before being detained amid political conflict.
- 1983–1984
Revolutionary government
Came to power after a coup and renamed the country Burkina Faso.
- 1984–1987
Reform programme
Pursued vaccination, education and economic self-reliance.
Policies & legacy
Vaccination campaign
Made immunisation a prominent national priority.
Women’s participation
Challenged practices and restrictions affecting women.
Self-reliance
Promoted domestic production and criticised foreign debt dependence.
Political context
Political repression
His government also restricted opponents and independent organisations.
Assassination
Was killed in the 1987 coup that brought Blaise Compaoré to power.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Photo: The Militant/ Ernest Harsch. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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