{"id":9595,"date":"2021-06-11T14:15:10","date_gmt":"2021-06-11T08:45:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/?p=9595"},"modified":"2021-06-11T14:16:39","modified_gmt":"2021-06-11T08:46:39","slug":"tale-of-a-trial-thomas-sankara-burkina-faso-and-roads-to-reconciliation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/tale-of-a-trial-thomas-sankara-burkina-faso-and-roads-to-reconciliation\/","title":{"rendered":"Tale of a Trial: Thomas Sankara, Burkina Faso and Roads to &#8216;Reconciliation&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"9595\" class=\"elementor elementor-9595\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9f82a07 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9f82a07\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6f05afcb\" data-id=\"6f05afcb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c5b855a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7c5b855a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-9791\" src=\"https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/bf-02-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"180\" height=\"197\" srcset=\"https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/bf-02-273x300.jpg 273w, https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/bf-02-933x1024.jpg 933w, https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/bf-02-768x842.jpg 768w, https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/bf-02-150x165.jpg 150w, https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/bf-02-450x494.jpg 450w, https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/bf-02-1200x1316.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/bf-02.jpg 1320w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px\" \/>Even after 34 years of his assassination in 1987, the legacy of Marxist-socialist revolutionary leader, Thomas Sankara, continues to inspire his native country Burkina Faso (Africa). A staunch advocate of Pan-African pride, Sankara was a man of reforms at home. Apart from attempts to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation, polygamy and other social evils, the four-year Presidential tenure (1983-1987) of Thomas Sankara, brim with reforms in education, healthcare, governance earned him the title of Africa&#8217;s Che Guevara. The adventures of the populist leader were cut short after his <strong>assassination by his close aide Blaise Compaor\u00e9,<\/strong> who went on to rule Burkina Faso for next 27 years, until he <strong>resigned and fled to Ivory Coast in the aftermath of the famous 2014 Burkinabe Uprising meant to restore the democratic order in real terms. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n<figure id=\"attachment_9785\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9785\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-9785 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/15737999_303-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/15737999_303-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/15737999_303-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/15737999_303-450x253.jpg 450w, https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/15737999_303.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9785\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ex President Blaise Campaore<br \/>(Pic Credit: UFRGS)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In April 2021, after confirming the charges of assassination, Military tribunal in capital city of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) resolved to initiate the trial of the former President Blaise Compaor\u00e9. The trial in general, assumes significance in backdrop of &#8216;National reconciliation&#8217; launched by current President Roch Kabore to unify the country to confront challenges on various fronts.<\/p>\n\n<figure id=\"attachment_9786\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9786\" style=\"width: 150px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-9786 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/b-peterson-headshot-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/b-peterson-headshot-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/b-peterson-headshot.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9786\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Brian J. Peterson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In the shadows of an almost impossible extradition of the accused, to explore the symbolic significance of the trial, The Voices interviews <strong>Brian J. Peterson<\/strong>. Peterson is an <strong>Associate professor of History and Director of African Studies Program at Union College, New York, USA<\/strong>. Peterson has also authored a Biography of &#8216;Thomas Sankara titled <em><strong>&#8216;Thomas Sankara: A revolutionary in Cold War Africa&#8217; <\/strong><\/em>(Indiana University Press, 2021).<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>1. Sankara continues to be cherished as &#8216;Africa&#8217;s Che Guevara&#8217;. What&#8217;s your take on the popular title?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<figure id=\"attachment_9787\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9787\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-9787 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/3ojd1038lqu01-300x212.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"212\" srcset=\"https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/3ojd1038lqu01-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/3ojd1038lqu01-150x106.jpg 150w, https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/3ojd1038lqu01-450x319.jpg 450w, https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/3ojd1038lqu01.jpg 661w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9787\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sankara and Fidel Castro<br \/>(Pic Credit: Reddit)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em>Although many African revolutionaries have been anointed with the title \u201cAfrican Che Guevara,\u201d figures such as Samora Machel and Amilcar Cabral for example, the appellation has seemed to have stuck with Sankara, even 30 years after his assassination. Although Sankara and Che were cut from different sorts of cloth, in terms of their personalities and approaches to revolution, the two men belonged to a shared revolutionary culture. Sankara was certainly inspired by Che, and in many ways he appropriated some of Che\u2019s rhetoric and idealism in his reforms which earned him the title. But mostly, I think, the overlap is in the area of how both men emerged after their murders as revolutionary symbols.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<p><strong>2. What had stopped this trial for years, and what does those reasons speak about the nature of political dynamics in the country and the earlier regime? And\u00a0how\u00a0would you reflect upon the opposition calling the trials politically motivated?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p><em>After Sankara\u2019s murder the Compaor\u00e9 regime did everything in its power to tarnish the memory and reputation of Sankara, and this regime flat-out refused to entertain investigating his murder. It wasn\u2019t until Compaor\u00e9\u2019s abdication in October of 2014 that the judicial system in Burkina Faso was finally able to move forward with investigating Sankara\u2019s murder. Since then there has been some progress, leading to arrest warrants for many of those involved. However, Compaor\u00e9\u2019s faction, and his henchmen who allegedly carried out the murder, have been subversive in their approach. They have done everything possible to slow down the judicial process and even derail it. Their political motivation has been to protect themselves and their families from legal exposure and long prison sentences.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<p><strong>3. Why the onset of this trial assumes\u00a0importance, even when the chances of extradition of\u00a0Blaise\u00a0Compaor\u00e9\u00a0from Ivory coast are\u00a0really bleak?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p><em>Even if Compaor\u00e9 is not extradited for the murders of Sankara and many others, his trial in absentia will be an important event, and hopefully will bring some closure to a very tragic story. The trial will certainly shed light on the murders, and will allow the Burkinab\u00e9 to move forward. Justice will not be ultimately served until Compaor\u00e9 and those involved have been apprehended and imprisoned, but I think establishing his guilt will send a powerful message.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<p><strong>4. How far it would be a gesture of \u2018justice and reconciliation\u2019 to the masses ?\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p><em>We must not forget that many others aside from Sankara have been victims of the Compaor\u00e9 regime. Their stories and sacrifices must be remembered and honored in this process. In terms of national reconciliation, Sankara would have been the first to draw attention to the sacrifices of the people in their struggle against injustice and impunity. He has been the centerpiece of the revolution, but he always wanted to keep the focus on the people<strong>.<\/strong> And people fought against the oppressive regime of Compaor\u00e9 in 2014 uprising, many lost lives too.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<p><strong>5. In a broader scheme of things explain to us the vision of so called\u00a0\u2018national reconciliation\u2019 which has gathered the buzz in the country and under\u00a0ambit\u00a0of which this is being pursued.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p><em>National reconciliation is an incredibly important vision which plans to confront many ethnic and political challenges in the country. At this juncture Burkina Faso is dealing with many threats, such as jihadist terrorism, climate change, and political instability. President Roch Kabaore have been particularly vocal about this reconciliation project. After his reelection early in the year he appointed a dedicated minister for the same. Burkina Faso is dealing with very formidable challenges right now, but these trials too hold importance of their own. I do think that bringing closure to Sankara\u2019s assassination, and to the murders of Norbert Zongo, and dozens of others, must be addressed.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n<p><strong>6. In 2017, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, said France would declassify government documents concerning Sankara\u2019s killing, after being criticized for the role played by the former colonial ruler.\u00a0How do you think France would be absorbing the developments, given its debated role in the region and country?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<figure id=\"attachment_9792\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9792\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-9792\" src=\"https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/23147_BFA-171-28-AFRICA-MACRON_1511852402593-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/23147_BFA-171-28-AFRICA-MACRON_1511852402593-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/23147_BFA-171-28-AFRICA-MACRON_1511852402593-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/23147_BFA-171-28-AFRICA-MACRON_1511852402593-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/23147_BFA-171-28-AFRICA-MACRON_1511852402593-450x253.jpg 450w, https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/23147_BFA-171-28-AFRICA-MACRON_1511852402593.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9792\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">French President Macron greeted by Burkina Faso President Kabore on a state visit<br \/>(Pic Credit: Reuters, 2017)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em>If France wants to remain relevant in Africa, then as Sankara said, France needs to change its policies and approach towards Africa, to decolonise the relationship, to work as a partner, not an imperialist overlord. I think the Burkinabe people are generally forgiving, and would welcome France&#8217;s transparency, and this would pay dividends in France&#8217;s relationship with Africa. You can&#8217;t have a real partnership and cooperation as long as there&#8217;s no real trust. The problem is that France has not been trusted in this part of the world, except by neocolonial puppets and strongman. That&#8217;s not a recipe for enduring influence in the region.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<p>Interview By NK Jha<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Thomas Sankara at a glance<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has-el-gap el-gap-default elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7a5ec73 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7a5ec73\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b0d1e25\" data-id=\"b0d1e25\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bcb964f elementor-arrows-position-inside elementor-pagination-position-outside elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-carousel\" data-id=\"bcb964f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;slides_to_show&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;navigation&quot;:&quot;both&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_hover&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_interaction&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;autoplay_speed&quot;:5000,&quot;infinite&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;effect&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:500}\" data-widget_type=\"image-carousel.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-carousel-wrapper swiper\" role=\"region\" aria-roledescription=\"carousel\" aria-label=\"Image Carousel\" dir=\"ltr\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-carousel swiper-wrapper\" aria-live=\"off\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"1 of 12\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Slide1-768x432.jpg\" alt=\"Slide1\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"2 of 12\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Slide2-768x432.jpg\" alt=\"Slide2\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"3 of 12\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Slide3-768x432.jpg\" alt=\"Slide3\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"4 of 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decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Slide7-768x432.jpg\" alt=\"Slide7\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"8 of 12\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Slide8-768x432.jpg\" alt=\"Slide8\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"9 of 12\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Slide9-768x432.jpg\" alt=\"Slide9\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"10 of 12\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" 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class=\"eicon-chevron-left\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-next\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"eicon-chevron-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has-el-gap el-gap-default elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a5ab4dc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a5ab4dc\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b2a7adc\" data-id=\"b2a7adc\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-870620f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"870620f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Slider Image Credit: NK Jha<\/p>\n<p>Story Edited By: V Prem Shanker<\/p>\n<p>Slider Cover Credit: Pinterest.com<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Even after 34 years of his assassination in 1987, the legacy of Marxist-socialist revolutionary leader, Thomas Sankara, continues to inspire his native country Burkina Faso (Africa). A staunch advocate of Pan-African pride, Sankara was a man of reforms at home. Apart from attempts to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation, polygamy and other social evils, the four-year<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":10308,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[69,72,73],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[10],"class_list":{"0":"post-9595","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-politics","8":"category-uncategorized","9":"category-world"},"aioseo_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Tale of a Trial: Thomas Sankara, Burkina Faso and Roads to &#039;Reconciliation&#039; - The Voices<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/medialit.in\/thevoices\/tale-of-a-trial-thomas-sankara-burkina-faso-and-roads-to-reconciliation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Tale of a Trial: Thomas Sankara, Burkina Faso and Roads to &#039;Reconciliation&#039; - The Voices\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Even after 34 years of his assassination in 1987, the legacy of Marxist-socialist revolutionary leader, Thomas Sankara, continues to inspire his native country Burkina Faso (Africa). A staunch advocate of Pan-African pride, Sankara was a man of reforms at home. 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