39th Anniversary of Thomas Sankara’s Assassination: A Grand Tribute in Ouagadougou
On October 15, 1987, the father of the Democratic and Popular Revolution (RDP) was assassinated at the site of the Council of Understanding. Thirty-nine years later, on October 15, 2026, the people of Burkina Faso paid tribute to him and his companions at the same site, which has now been turned into a memorial in his name. Tribute speeches, a military ceremony, and the laying of wreaths marked the commemoration of the 39th anniversary of the assassination of Thomas Sankara and his companions.
Members of the government, administrative, traditional, and religious authorities, ambassadors accredited to Burkina Faso, and civic activists came together to pay tribute to Thomas Sankara, 39 years after his assassination.
Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo delivered the tribute speech on behalf of the President of Burkina Faso. “Those who assassinated Thomas Sankara, thinking they could put an end to his revolution, were fighting the wrong battle,” declared the head of government.
Reflecting on the circumstances surrounding the assassination of Thomas Sankara and his companions, the Prime Minister noted that a revolution does not die solely by the will of its external enemies, but also through the actions of their local allies.
Drawing a connection to the imperialists, who reportedly view the Progressive and Popular Revolution (RPP) with disfavor, Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo warned them in these terms: “The Burkina Faso of 2026 is not the same as that of 1987.” ”
“Millions of trees planted, health clinics and schools built, as well as the railroad” are among the achievements of the Democratic and Popular Revolution listed by the Prime Minister.
Continuing Sankara’s Struggle
“The best way to honor Thomas Sankara is not to mourn, but to continue his struggle,” the Prime Minister insisted. According to him, the people of Burkina Faso must continue this struggle in order to achieve sovereignty in security, food, the economy, and culture.
The Thomas Sankara Memorial allows thousands of people, from both within the country and abroad, to engage with the history and vision of the leader of the Democratic and Popular Revolution. The visitor numbers attest to this. “From May 19, 2025—the date it opened to the public—through September 30, 2026, the site welcomed more than 200,000 visitors, generating approximately 130 million CFA francs,” said Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo. His hope is to turn the memorial into an open-air library where young people can come to learn and be inspired.
The Prime Minister’s symbolic laying of a wreath, followed by a military ceremony featuring honors and a military parade, brought to a close the commemoration of the 39th anniversary of the assassination of Thomas Sankara and his companions.
M’pempé Bernard HIEN
