THIS DAY IN HISTORY: 15th October 1987 - ModernGhana.com

16.10.12

THIS DAY IN HISTORY: 15th October 1987 - ModernGhana.com - Thomas Sankara, President of Burkina Faso, was assassinated in a bloody coup d'état, organised by his former close colleague and deputy, Blaise Compaoré. Sankara came to power on 4th August 1983, assisted by Compaoré, through a popular overthrow of the pro-French government of Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo. Sankara had been appointed Prime Minister in January 1983, but was dismissed and detained on 17th May the same year following a visit by the French African affairs adviser, Jean-Christophe Mitterrand (also the son of the French President), because of his pro-people and anti French stance. This led to a popular uprising. As President, Sankara promoted the "Democratic and Popular Revolution" (RDP Revolution Democratique et Populaire), and launched one of the most ambitious programmes for economic and social change in Africa. To symbolise the new focus on self-determination and pride, one year after becoming President Sankara renamed the country from the French colonial Upper Volta to Burkina Faso - land of upright men.