Military coups have long been part of burkina fasos history. Mar 30, 2021 burkina faso attracts migrants from cote divoire, ghana, and mali, who often share common ethnic backgrounds with the burkinabe. Can burkina faso africas most coupprone state become a. Their coup ended a th ree year interregnu m that followed the. Sep 30, 2015 ouagadougou, burkina faso the burkina faso military crushed the last remnants of a failed coup on tuesday, storming the barracks of the elite unit that staged the coup days earlier. Nov 01, 2014 thomas sankara, often called the african che guevara, was president of burkina faso, one of the poorest countries in africa, until his assassination during the military coup that brought down his government. Compaore stated his reasoning behind the coup was that sankara had jeopardised foreign relations with france and neighbouring ivory coast.
Nexus of coup in ouagadougou marked green, burkina faso the 1987 burkinabe coup detat was a bloody military coup in burkina faso, which took place on 15 october 1987. Thomas sankara president of burkina faso britannica. Despite its food shortages and high poverty rate, burkina faso has become a destination for refugees in recent years and hosts about 33,500 malians as of may 2017. As a reporter with 30 years of experience working in the region, ernest harschs burkina faso. Repeated military coups during the 1970s and 1980s were followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s.
Our revolution in burkina faso draws on the totality of mans experiences since the first breath of humanity. In burkina faso, all eyes on how postcoup leaders handle. His father, joseph sankara, a gendarme, was of mixed mossifulani silmimoaga heritage while his mother, marguerite kinda, was of direct mossi descent. While there he witnessed the first military coup detat in upper volta led by. Thomas sankara, born december 21, 1949, yako, upper volta now burkina faso died october 15, 1987, ouagadougou, burkina faso, military officer and proponent of panafricanism who was installed as president of upper volta later burkina faso in 1983 after a military coup. Laura seay, colby college burkina faso finds itself at the heart of the current sahelian crisis, while simultaneously navigating its own revolutionary democratic transition. His growing popularity is connected with deep discontent among burkinabe, who ousted president blaise compaore the captain responsible for sankaras death during a popular insurrection in october 2014.
Speeches from the burkina faso revolution 198387, pathfinder press. Thomas sankara bio, spouse, children, cause of death. Lamizana dominated the countrys politics until november 1980, when a series of strikes launched by. A fascinating journey through the turbulent history of burkina faso. The railway was established by the french colonial administration, and its route remained unchanged until thomas sankara came to power in upper volta in 1983. This is the first englishlanguage book to tell the story of sankar. The buraasinda system of settlements apparently covered the lower niger river valley, including the boura region of burkina faso. Recent archeological discoveries at bura in southwest niger and in adjacent southwest burkina faso have documented the existence of the ironage bura culture from the 3rd century to the th century. Defying all expectations, this popular movement went on to defeat an attempted coup by the old regime, making it possible for a transitional. Burkina faso s single railway line originates in abidjan, cote divoire, on the atlantic coast and runs northward six hundred kilometers to the capital and largest city, ouagadougou.
Sep 21, 2015 men ride a motorcycle past a burning barricade set up by anti coup protesters in ouagadougou, burkina faso, on sept. Your institution does not have access to this book on jstor. Invaders from presentday ghana conquered central and e burkina faso, establishing the mossi states of ouagadougou, yatenga, and tengkodogo in the center and the state of gourma in the east. Compaore, who took power in a 1987 coup that left president.
Get your order fast and stress free with free curbside pickup. Oct 12, 2015 a divided army does not make burkina faso exceptional, but when that army has a history of involving itself in politics, the likelihood of coups, again, increases. Current president blaise compaore came to power in a 1987 military coup. Thomas isidore noel sankara was a burkinabe military officer and socialist revolutionary who. Dec 01, 1988 before reading this book, i glanced at a few statistics about burkina faso from recent years. As an alternative, the kindle ebook is available now and can be read on any device. Medium collegeruled journey diary, 110 page, lined, 6x9 15. Sankara was assassinated in a 1987 military coup that halted a nascent movement for progressive change and justice in burkina faso. Burkina faso cia world factbook the best country factbook. The people of burkina faso have decided to take control of their destiny, mr kabore said. The congo, burkina faso, politics, economics and society, 1989, joan baxter and keith somerville, pinter publishers, london and new york, book. The history of burkina faso includes the history of various kingdoms within the country, such as. Defying all expectations, this popular movement went on to defeat an attempted coup by the old regime, makin. Although his tenure in office was relatively short, sankara left an indelible mark on his countrys history and development.
Providing context for the mass uprising in burkina faso with a historical and continental look at protests. During the 1950s, a largely peaceful independence movement brought together various constituencies under. This books shows how the 2014 uprising was both a remarkable and original episode in the countrys long tradition of protests and political inventiveness. Particular attention is paid to the revolutionary years 198387 under thomas sankara, whom the author interviewed several times, and the burkinabe uprising in 2014 that deposed blaise compaore. October 30 marks the 5th anniversary of the start of burkina fasos. A history of power, protest, and revolution, author. The economist explains why burkina faso has so many. Compaore was toppled october 2014 and fled into exile in ivory coast after a popular uprising triggered by his attempt to extend his 27year rule. By the early 1980s, burkina faso was being rocked by a series of labour union strikes and military coups. This commentary traces recent regime change and political transition in burkina faso. Jeanbaptiste ouedraogo 20 burkina faso 8 4 1983 1 capt. Burkina faso history, west african history, books barnes. Burkina faso s trajectory fits well within these broader patterns of political protest. Burkina faso military puts down last holdouts from coup.
Covering a period from the eighteenth century to the early twentyfirst century, this multidisciplinary volume examines muslim engagements with the quran in a variety of geographical locations in subsaharan africa including burkina faso, kenya, mali, niger, nigeria, senegal, and tanzania. Since burkina faso became an independent nation, the military has on several occasions intervened during times of crisis. Burkina faso flag notebook burkinabe flag book burkina faso travel journal. Sankaras military achievements and charismatic leadership style made him a popular choice for political appointments, but his personal and political integrity put him at odds with the leadership of the successive military governments that came to power, leading to his arrest on several occasions.
Through interviews with former mutineers in sierra leone, burkina faso, and the gambia, the book provides a unique and intimate. Burkina fasos uprising part of an ongoing wave of african. Sep 18, 2015 burkina faso, formerly known as upper volta, was a french colony until 1960. Burkina faso history history of burkina faso burkina faso. This book shows how the 2014 uprising was both a remarkable and original episode in the countrys long tradition of protests and political inventiveness. The coup was organized by captain blaise compaore against incumbent farleft president captain thomas sankara, his former friend 3 and associate during the 1983 upheaval. It provides new insight into burkina faso s fascinating political history, from sankara to the 2014 uprising. The presidential security regiment was established by mr. Burkina fasos president back in charge as coup fails.
The shortlived coup in burkina faso may be one of the quickest in the history of african military coups. Belgian economist pierre engleberts book, burkina faso. Sep 18, 2015 here are the main developments since the coup in the west african country of burkina faso, which brought to power gilbert diendere, an aide to ousted president blaise compaore. The plot, as described by the government of burkina faso, targeted president blaise compaore who, together with lingani and zongo, had previously. Following a number of military coups, the beloved populist leader thomas sankara became president also through a coup detat although a bloodless one in 1983 and implemented a number of major reforms. Burkina fasos hugues zango sets world indoor triple jump. Burkina faso formerly upper volta achieved independence from france in 1960. The ones that stood out to me were that 40% of the adolescents justify wifebeating both males and females, 50% are married before the age of 18, the life expectancy is 60 and the literacy rate is 30%. The burkina faso revolution, 198387, pathfinder press. Sep 24, 2015 a coup in burkina faso threatened to pull the country further into political crisis, with leading ministers detained, violent clashes on the streets of the capital, and a wideeyed general. Can burkina faso africas most coupprone state become.
For an aiac on the ground analysis of the events as they unfolded, see here. Hana sandhu says this book is a gripping account of the countrys radical history of political struggle. Just 11 months later, in october 2016, a coup plot by forces loyal to mr compaore was foiled by. Few days in postcolonial african history have caused more collective anguish than october 15, 1987. Guevara, was president of burkina faso, one of the poorest countries in africa, until his assassination during the military coup that brought down his government. Unsteady statehood in west africa 1st edition pierre. Some of the above is also based on things i observed, read and or heard while living and working in the ivory coast from 1983 to 1987, during which time i also visited ghana and burkina faso several. A history of power, protest, and revolution by ernest harsch is a comprehensive history of burkina faso. In burkina faso, all eyes on how post coup leaders handle the old guard.
The definitive history book on the iconic 90s videogame tv show, authored by host dominik diamond. The country has suffered five military coups, the last of which cost the life of the outspoken. Agricultural settlements were established between 3600 and 2600 bce. Jan 17, 2021 burkina faso s hugues fabrice zango made history on saturday by setting a new indoor triple jump world record of 18. Womens liberation and the african freedom struggle, pathfinder press. It provides new insight into burkina faso s political history, from sankara to the 2014 uprising. Harsch, a longtime chronicler of life and politics in burkina faso, responds to the coup and. This coup was to define the history of burkina faso so renamed in 1984 for the next few decades with repeated military coups throughout the 1970s and 1980s until the countrys former president, blaise compaore left, come to power in a further such a coup in 1987. How to make sense of the shortlived coup in burkina faso.
The african record holder in both both indoors and outdoors events made the jump with his sixth and final effort. Burkina faso has had an extremely unstable history since its independence and multiple coups have been staged. Oct 30, 2014 after two days of protests in burkina faso the. So, if you are still trying to make sense of what happened, how it unfolded, and whats next, weve got you covered. The first military coup occurred in 1966, but then succumbed to another coup in 1978. A history of power, protest and revolution is rich with detail of burkinabe society and the complex relationships of power, patronage and social class. We wish to be the heirs of all the revolutions of the world, of all the liberation struggles of the peoples of the third world. A history of power, protest, and revolution harsch, ernest on. Burkina faso history history of burkina faso burkina. Current president blaise compaore came to power in a 1987 military coup and has won every election since then. He held that position until 1987, when he was killed during another. Few days in postcolonial african history have caused more collective anguish than octob. Nothing will be as it was before africa is a country. A major contribution to the study of mutinies and military coups in africa.
Blaise compaore, resulted in a military coup detat on 4 august 1983. The 1989 burkinabe coup detat attempt was allegedly an attempt at a military coup detat, planned by jeanbaptiste boukary lingani and henri zongo, in addition to other unnamed conspirators. Joe penneyreuters by molly ariotti and naunihal singh. Uhoh, it looks like your internet explorer is out of date. In burkina faso, all eyes on how postcoup leaders handle the. Blaise campaore 100 burkina faso 10 20 2003 4 norbert tiendrebeogo, capt.
Subsequently, he introduced a policy of rectification, overturning the leftist and third worldist policies pursued by sankara. Burkina fasos president back in charge as coup fails reuters. The chronology of military coup detats and regimes in burkina faso. The bura culture was an ironage civilization centred in the southwest portion of.
Their tools, including scrapers, chisels and arrowheads, were discovered in 1973 through archaeological excavations. Thomas sankara was born thomas isidore noel sankara on 21 december 1949 in yako, french upper volta as the third of ten children to joseph and marguerite sankara. A unique, indepth political history of burkina faso, centred on the incredible events of 2014 in which a nonviolent revolution overthrew the existing regime. Sangoule lamizana, ousted the elected government of maurice yameogo. A transitional government has been charged with running the poverty. The northwestern part of presentday burkina faso was populated by huntergatherers from 14000 bce to 5000 bce. From upper volta to burkina faso usf scholar commons. History by about ad 1100 the principal inhabitants of the western part of presentday burkina faso were the bobo, lobi, and gurunsi. A brief drive through downtown ouagadougou is a lesson in this history of impunity. Particular attention is paid to the revolutionary years 198387 under thomas sankara, whom the author interviewed several times, and the burkinabe uprising. Constitution and ins urrecti on in burkina faso by peter brett 10 december 2019 in south africa and elsewhere there is a growing scepticism about constitutions as vehicles.
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