Former President Jerry John Rawlings on March 2, 2019 joined Burkinabe President Christian Mac Roch Kabore to unveiled a statue of late Burkinabe leader, Thomas Sankara, at a solemn ceremony in Ouagadougou .
Mr. Sankara was murdered on October 15, 1987, together with 12 of his officials in a coup d’etat staged by his close pal, Blaise Compare, who later became President of Burkina Faso.
Former President Rawlings in a tweet said: “Joined Burkinabe president @rochkaborepf at a solemn ceremony in Ouagadougou today to unveil Thomas Sankara’s Statue as part of the grand Sankara Memorial Monument.”
Joined Burkinabe President @rochkaborepf at a solemn ceremony in Ouagadougou today to unveil Thomas Sankara’s statue as part of the grand Sankara memorial monument. pic.twitter.com/dCTFTuyLf0
— Jerry John Rawlings (@officeofJJR) March 2, 2019
Born on December 21, 1949, Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara was a Burkinabé revolutionary and President of Burkina Faso from 1983 to 1987.
A Marxist and pan-Africanist, he was viewed by supporters as a charismatic and iconic figure of revolution, and is sometimes referred to as “Africa’s Che Guevara”.