Conspiracy behind Thomas Sankara assasination?

Introduction

Thomas Sankara was a revolutionary leader who served as the President of Burkina Faso from 1983 to 1987. His life and legacy have left a lasting impact on African politics and social reform.

Early Life and Rise to Power

Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara was born on December 21, 1949, in Yako, Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso). He came from a diverse background, with a Mossi mother and a Peul father, reflecting the multicultural nature of his country. Sankara’s political consciousness developed during his military training, which began in 1970 at the military academy of Antsirabe in Madagascar.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Sankara became increasingly involved in leftist politics, organizing the Communist Officers Group within the army and attending meetings of various political organizations. His popularity grew as he encouraged soldiers to assist civilians and engaged with the community, even playing guitar in a local band.

Presidency and Reforms

On August 4, 1983, at the age of 33, Sankara became President of Upper Volta through a popularly-supported coup. He quickly launched an ambitious program of social, ecological, and economic reforms. Some of his key achievements include:

Renaming the country to Burkina Faso (“Land of Upright People”) in 1984

Implementing a nationwide literacy campaign that raised rates from 13% in 1983 to 73% in 1987

Vaccinating 2.5 million children against meningitis, yellow fever, and measles in a matter of weeks

Planting over 10 million trees to combat desertification

Redistributing land from feudal landlords to peasants, increasing wheat production significantly

Promoting women’s rights by banning female genital mutilation and forced marriages

Appointing women to major cabinet positions and recruiting them for the military

Ideology and Approach

Sankara was known for his anti-imperialist stance and commitment to African self-reliance. He rejected foreign aid, stating, “He who feeds you, controls you”. His policies focused on:

Fighting corruption and reducing government expenses

Promoting local production and consumption of locally-made goods

Advocating for African nations to repudiate their foreign debt

Combating environmental degradation

Assassination and Legacy

On October 15, 1987, Thomas Sankara was assassinated during a coup led by his former colleague Blaise Compaoré. He was 37 years old at the time of his death. Despite his short tenure, Sankara’s revolutionary programs and reforms made him an icon to many of Africa’s impoverished nations.

Several individuals and entities are believed to have helped Blaise Compaoré in the assassination of Thomas Sankara:

Key Figures Involved

Hyacinths Kafando

A notorious security aide to Compaoré, Kafando was accused of leading the hit squad that killed Sankara.

Gilbert Diendéré

A senior military official at the time, Diendéré was present at the scene of the assassination and was charged with complicity in the murder.

Yamba Elysée Ilboudo

A former driver and presidential bodyguard who claimed to have driven armed men to the location where Sankara was killed.

Suspected International Support

While not definitively proven, there are indications of potential international involvement:

Côte d’Ivoire

Félix Houphouët-Boigny, then-president of Côte d’Ivoire, was known to have a poor relationship with Sankara and was likely supportive of Compaoré’s actions.

France

Some sources suggest possible French involvement, though concrete evidence has not been presented in court.

Charles Taylor

The former Liberian warlord was accused by Prince Johnson of engineering the coup, though this claim remains unverified

US ( CIA ) involvement

Based on the research and available evidence, there are strong indications that the CIA may have been indirectly involved in the assassination of Thomas Sankara, though definitive proof remains elusive.

CIA’s Concerns About Sankara

The CIA and US government had several reasons to be wary of Sankara:

Ties to Libya

Sankara’s connections to Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya were a major concern for US intelligence. The CIA was involved in covert operations against Libya at the time, and any African leader with ties to Gaddafi was viewed as a potential threat.

Anti-imperialist stance

Sankara’s outspoken anti-imperialist rhetoric and policies aimed at reducing Western influence in Burkina Faso put him at odds with US interests in the region.

Rejection of neoliberal policies

The US Embassy supported Blaise Compaoré after Sankara’s death, viewing him as more open to US and French neoliberal economic policies.

Evidence of Potential CIA Involvement

Several pieces of evidence suggest possible CIA complicity:

Witness testimony

Momo Jiba, an aide to Liberian warlord Charles Taylor, claimed the assassination was a “CIA operation”. Other associates of Taylor made similar allegations about CIA involvement.

US diplomatic cables

Declassified cables show that US diplomats had considered a coup likely and maintained a network of informants within Burkina Faso’s military and government.

Support for Compaoré

The US quickly backed Blaise Compaoré after Sankara’s death, suggesting they may have had prior knowledge of or involvement in the coup.

Cold War context

Socialist policies and ties to figures like Gaddafi made him a potential target during the Cold War era when the US often intervened against left-leaning leaders in developing countries.

Limitations and Uncertainties

Despite these indications, there are important caveats:

Lack of direct evidence

No smoking gun directly linking the CIA to Sankara’s assassination has been found.

Multiple stakeholders

The involvement of other countries, particularly France, complicates the picture. It’s possible that various international actors had overlapping interests in Sankara’s removal.

Internal factors

Domestic opposition to Sankara’s reforms, particularly from those whose corruption he targeted, likely played a significant role in his downfall.

Ongoing investigations

A separate investigation into foreign involvement in Sankara’s assassination is still underway, which may reveal more information in the future.

While the available evidence suggests that the CIA may have been indirectly involved in or at least supportive of the plot against Sankara, the full extent of their role remains unclear.

The assassination was likely the result of a complex interplay of domestic and international factors, with various stakeholders pursuing their own interests in removing the charismatic and controversial leader.

Conclusion

It’s important to note that while the trial has shed light on many aspects of the assassination, some details and potential international connections remain unclear or unproven. The investigation and legal proceedings have primarily focused on the direct perpetrators and those immediately involved in the coup.

Today, Sankara is often referred to as “Africa’s Che Guevara” and remains a symbol of revolution and progressive change in Africa. His popularity has grown in recent years, particularly with the media attention surrounding his assassination trial.

While Sankara’s legacy is largely positive, it’s important to note that his rule was not without controversy. Some of his methods, such as banning unions and establishing Revolutionary Defense Committees, were criticized for being authoritarian.

Thomas Sankara’s brief but impactful presidency continues to inspire discussions about African leadership, anti-imperialism, and social reform across the continent and beyond.

FAF review :

The three individuals directly involved in the assassination were merely pawns in a larger scheme orchestrated by France, with assistance from the United States. This scenario is reminiscent of the Patrice Lumumba case, where Belgium and the CIA were implicated.

Considering Sankara's close relationship with Gaddafi and his ideology, there is ample evidence to support the theory of a conspiracy involving the United States (CIA).

Gaddafi's execution followed a similar pattern, with the involvement of insider General Khalifa Haftar, orchestrated by the CIA. This also brings memories of Saddam Hussein who met with the same fate.

At times, we may feel weak and fearful of change.However, the world is evolving.

We hope for a shift towards balance, envisioning a progressive Africa and a thriving Burkina Faso.