“We Will Overcome”: Captain Ibrahim Traoré Revives Sankara’s Vision in a New Revolution for Burkina Faso

Today, August 4, Burkina Faso remembers a powerful chapter in its history, the beginning of the Democratic and Popular Revolution (DPR) in 1983. This was the day when Captain Thomas Sankara, a young and bold military officer, took leadership and changed the course of the country forever. 

Captain Ibrahim Traoré, Burkina Faso’s current revolutionary leader, has used this special day to speak to the nation. He reminded the people of what Sankara stood for, a vision of a proud, free, and independent Burkina Faso. Traoré said that this same spirit lives on today in what he calls the Popular Progressive Revolution (PPR). 

According to Traoré, the PPR is a continuation of Sankara’s mission. It is built on the belief that the people of Burkina Faso have the strength and ability to build their own future. It is about development from within, where no outsider controls the path of the country. This is what he calls “endogenous and inclusive development.” 

Traoré told the people that, just like Sankara and other national heroes, they must remain committed and determined. He promised to fight imperialism and all forms of foreign domination. “The Homeland or Death, We Will Overcome,” he said with conviction, echoing the same words Sankara once declared. 

Thomas Sankara was born on December 21, 1949, in a town called Yako. He came from a Roman Catholic family who wanted him to become a priest. But he chose a different path — the military. It was in Madagascar, during his officer training in 1970, that Sankara saw something that changed him: students and workers rising up to bring down a corrupt government. 

Later, in France, he trained as a paratrooper and learned more about left-wing ideas and Pan-Africanism. He believed that African countries could only become truly free if they stopped depending on the West and worked together. 

In 1974, he became a national hero after a war with Mali, but he later admitted the war was meaningless and unjust. In the early 1980s, Burkina Faso was unstable. There were strikes, coups, and corrupt governments. Sankara became more popular, but his honesty made him many enemies. 

In 1983, after being arrested again, his friend Blaise Compaoré led a coup to free him and put him in power. This was the beginning of the DPR. 

As president, Sankara made big changes. He fought corruption, planted trees to fight desertification, improved healthcare, and pushed for more education, especially for girls. He made it easier for women to get jobs in government. One of his first moves was to rename the country from “Upper Volta” to Burkina Faso, meaning “Land of Upright People.” 

But not everyone liked the changes. Some traditional leaders and elites were angry. Others were unhappy with the economy. Slowly, some of his supporters turned against him. On October 15, 1987, he was killed in a coup led by Compaoré, the same man who had helped him rise to power. 

Compaoré then ruled the country for 27 years, until protests forced him out in 2014. For many years, Sankara’s killers were not punished. But in 2021, a trial finally began. In April 2022, the court found Compaoré and others guilty. Compaoré was sentenced to life in prison, although he remains in exile in Côte d’Ivoire. 

Captain Ibrahim Traoré sees today’s fight as a return to that revolutionary path. He believes the people of Burkina Faso must take control of their own destiny. He wants them to remember Sankara not just as a man, but as a symbol of hope, courage, and true independence. 

Sankara’s words, speeches, and ideas continue to inspire generations. Books like “Thomas Sankara Speaks” and “Women’s Liberation and the African Freedom Struggle” are still read by activists, students, and leaders across Africa and the world. 

Captain Traoré’s message today is clear: the struggle is not over. Imperialism still exists, but the Burkinabè people are ready. With unity, vision, and bravery, they can rise again. They can finish what Sankara started. 

As the sun rises on this August 4, the people of Burkina Faso are not just looking back, they are also looking forward. With a new revolution and a new leader, the dream of a proud and sovereign nation still lives on. 

The Revolution Lives On: How Ibrahim Traoré is Reviving Sankara’s Vision for a Free and Proud Burkina Faso 

Burkina Faso is once again standing tall, bold, sovereign, and ready to write a new chapter in its history. A new wave of pride and power is flowing through the country, reminding the people of a time when everything seemed possible. That time was the 1980s, and that hope came from a man named Thomas Sankara. 

Today, under the leadership of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, many believe that the dream once carried by Sankara is alive again. In his bold speeches, firm decisions, and fearless actions, Traoré is bringing back the spirit of a revolution that began over four decades ago. 

On August 4, Burkina Faso honors the memory of the Democratic and Popular Revolution (DPR), the day Sankara and his fellow revolutionaries decided to take control of their nation’s future. For many Burkinabè, this date is more than a commemoration, it is a reminder of who they are and who they can still become. 

Captain Ibrahim Traoré, in his official statement this year, described the revolution as “a refusal of inevitability.” He reminded the country that the Popular Progressive Revolution (PPR), the new vision under his leadership, is built on the same foundation: a belief that the people of Burkina Faso have the power to shape their own destiny, free from foreign control. 

This is not just about remembering a leader from the past. It is about continuing a movement that never truly ended. 

Thomas Sankara, often called “Africa’s Che Guevara,” rose to power in 1983 through a military-led revolution. Young, charismatic, and fearless, he immediately began transforming the country. He changed its name from Upper Volta to Burkina Faso, which means “Land of Upright People.” 

Sankara launched campaigns for tree planting, women’s empowerment, healthcare, and education. He lived modestly, fought corruption, and warned against the dangers of foreign debt and imperialism. His ideas were bold and his life was cut short when he was assassinated in 1987. But his words and values lived on. 

Decades later, Ibrahim Traoré, also a young military captain, took power in September 2022. His rise came after years of political instability and worsening security. Since then, he has made strong moves to take back control of the country’s future. 

Traoré expelled French troops, canceled long-standing military agreements, and welcomed new international partnerships, especially with Russia. But more than anything, he has focused on Burkina Faso’s right to control its own wealth. 

One of the most powerful actions of his government was the creation of SOPAMIB, a state-owned mining company. This step allowed the government to take back gold mines previously controlled by foreign corporations and put more of the country’s resources into Burkinabè hands. 

While some of these choices have led to criticism and uncertainty, especially in the fight against terrorism, many people see Traoré as a leader who truly believes in independence and self-reliance, just like Sankara did. 

His speeches are filled with language of resistance, unity, and Pan-Africanism. He is not afraid to speak out against foreign interference. He is not trying to be popular abroad. He is trying to build a future for his people. 

This has gained him support across Africa, especially among the youth. On social media, young Africans often describe him as a true son of Sankara, a man who doesn’t just wear the uniform, but wears the spirit of revolution. 

Recently, the world paid closer attention when the head of the U.S. military in Africa, Gen. Michael Langley, described Traoré as a “person of interest” and accused him of using Burkina Faso’s gold to secure his position. This comment sparked outrage among Africans who believe Traoré is being targeted simply for refusing to bow to Western powers. 

Soon after, thousands of people gathered in Ouagadougou to show support for their leader. They carried banners, waved flags, and shouted slogans like “Long live Captain Traoré!” Some even held up signs mocking the accusations from abroad. 

This moment wasn’t just about one man, it was a powerful message to the world: Burkina Faso is awake. Africa is watching. 

Of course, challenges remain. The country is still facing violent attacks. The economy is fragile. The transition to full democracy is still unclear. But what makes this moment different is the energy behind it. The people are not just following a leader, they are part of a movement. 

Traoré’s call to action, “The homeland or death, we will overcome”, echoes Sankara’s legacy and inspires a new generation to believe in something bigger than politics. It’s about dignity. It’s about freedom. It’s about Africa rising on its own terms. 

As Burkina Faso marks another year since the start of the Democratic and Popular Revolution, it’s clear that this isn’t just about history, it’s about the present and the future. 

Captain Ibrahim Traoré is not simply leading a government. He is reviving a revolution. 

And for millions in Burkina Faso and beyond, that is exactly what this continent has been waiting for.