How Burkina Faso Reclaimed Greatness: An Unforgettable Come Back.

Подробнее о видео

Prior to this time, when you talk about the top guns in Africa, Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt are the ones that are mentioned because of their large economy, population, and general status in the international community. No one talks about Burkina Faso except to mention that it is one of the poorest countries in the Sahel region, where there is no water, no electricity, and school children do not go to school. And they would have been correct. You see, Nigeria may have been called the giant of Africa for decades but at one point in history before October 15th, 1987, Burkina Faso would have certainly taken that position in Africa, and it's not because they had a large population like Nigeria. No, it's simply because of one man who dared to be different, Thomas Sankara, the revolutionary hero of Burkina Faso.

This man came into power through a coup and stayed for just four years until he was assassinated by his closest friend, Blaise Compaore together with France. But in those four years, this man was able to transform Burkina Faso from a country scarred by the ravages of French colonialism and dependent on foreign aid to one that was self-sufficient at that time. He was at the forefront of women’s liberation and paved the path for female entry into government positions. He initiated a nationwide illiteracy campaign, planted trees to curb desertification, and vaccinated millions of children against meningitis, yellow fever, and measles. He built roads and a railway to tie the nation together, all without foreign aid and encouraged Francophone Africa not to pay any colonial debt to France. He was set on making Burkina Faso, a force to be reckoned with in Africa but unfortunately, all his plans were cut short after he was assassinated and his so-called friend, Blaise Compaore took over the helm of power in Burkina Faso.