On May 17, 2025, Burkina Faso will mark a historic moment with the inauguration of the Thomas Sankara Mausoleum and his 12 Companions in Ouagadougou, a monument dedicated to the revolutionary leader and the comrades assassinated alongside him in 1987. 

Announced by Gilbert Ouedraogo, Minister of Communication and Culture, the ceremony, under the patronage of junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré, is not merely a commemorative event but a powerful statement of national identity, historical reclamation, and the enduring relevance of Sankara’s vision. The chosen date is symbolic, coinciding with May 17, 1983, when Sankara’s arrest as Prime Minister sparked the People’s Democratic Revolution (PDR), a precursor to the transformative August 1983 Revolution he led. For Burkinabés, this mausoleum represents far more than a physical structure—it is a testament to a revolutionary legacy that continues to shape their aspirations for sovereignty, self-reliance, and social justice. 

The Man Behind the Mausoleum - Sankara’s Legacy 

Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara, often dubbed “Africa’s Che Guevara,” was a charismatic military officer, Marxist, and Pan-Africanist who became president of Burkina Faso in 1983 at age 33, following a popularly supported coup. Born in 1949 in Yako, Upper Volta (Burkina Faso’s colonial name), Sankara’s early exposure to revolutionary ideas came during military training in Madagascar, where he witnessed a popular uprising, and in France, where he encountered leftist ideologies. His disdain for corruption and imperialism defined his leadership. Upon taking power, he renamed the country Burkina Faso, meaning “land of upright people” in Mossi and Dyula, signaling a break from colonial legacies. 

Sankara’s four-year presidency was a whirlwind of radical reforms. He prioritized self-sufficiency, rejecting International Monetary Fund loans and promoting local production, which led to near food self-sufficiency by 1987. His government vaccinated millions of children against diseases like meningitis and measles, launched a nationwide literacy campaign, and planted 10 million trees to combat desertification. Socially, he banned female genital mutilation, prohibited forced marriages, and promoted women’s participation in governance. His anti-imperialist stance, including fiery speeches against Western dominance and colonial debts, earned him global admiration but also powerful enemies. 

However, Sankara’s tenure was not without flaws. His Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDRs) sometimes devolved into abusive militias, and the Popular Revolutionary Tribunals, meant to curb corruption, were criticized for lacking due process. These missteps are thought to have fueled dissent, culminating in his assassination on October 15, 1987, during a coup led by his close ally Blaise Compaoré, who ruled for 27 years. Sankara’s death, alongside 12 aides, at the National Revolutionary Council headquarters (now the mausoleum site), left a wound in Burkina Faso’s collective psyche, with his legacy suppressed under Compaoré’s regime. 

The Mausoleum - A Symbol of Remembrance and Redemption 

The Thomas Sankara Mausoleum, designed by Burkina Faso’s Pritzker Prize-winning architect Francis Kéré, is a 14-hectare complex envisioned as a “place of life and gathering.” Located at the former Conseil de l’Entente, where Sankara was killed, the site preserves the bullet-scarred building where the assassinations occurred, surrounded by water to symbolize reflection. The oval mausoleum, built with local laterite and earth for natural cooling, features small openings that filter light by day and glow at night. An 87-meter tower, a new urban landmark, offers panoramic views and a restaurant. At the same time, the complex includes an amphitheater, media library, ateliers, and spaces for weddings and study, aligning with Sankara’s vision of community empowerment. 

Kéré, who met Sankara as a student in Fada Ngourma, emphasizes vitality over mourning. “We don’t want a place of death and suffering, but rather one full of vitality and life,” he told The Guardian. The project, initiated under President Ibrahim Traoré, reflects a broader effort to honor Sankara’s memory. In 2023, Sankara was declared a “hero of the nation,” and October 15 was made an annual day of homage. A major boulevard, previously named after Charles de Gaulle, was renamed for Sankara in 2024, and his statue was unveiled at the site. These acts signify a deliberate reclamation of national pride from colonial and neo-colonial influences. 

For Burkinabés, the mausoleum is a long-overdue acknowledgment of Sankara’s contributions. Under Compaoré, discussion of Sankara’s assassination was taboo, and his body, along with those of his comrades, was buried in shallow graves. The 2014 uprising that ousted Compaoré led to the exhumation of the remains in 2015 and a 2022 trial that convicted Compaoré and others in absentia. The 2023 reburial of Sankara and his aides at the memorial site was a step toward closure, but the mausoleum’s inauguration elevates this to a national celebration of his ideals. 

Why It Matters - Sankara’s Enduring Relevance 

The mausoleum’s significance lies in its role as a bridge between Burkina Faso’s revolutionary past and its present struggles. Sankara’s policies addressed issues that remain pressing: food insecurity, environmental degradation, gender inequality, and neo-colonial exploitation. His push for self-reliance resonates in a country still dependent on imports and vulnerable to global market fluctuations. Burkina Faso faces ongoing challenges, including jihadist insurgencies and economic hardship, which have fueled political instability, with coups in 2022 led by Traoré. As noted by interim Prime Minister Apollinaire J. Kyélem de Tambèla, who was once invited to join Sankara’s cabinet, the current junta's embrace of Sankara's legacy suggests a desire to reconnect with his vision of sovereignty. 

The mausoleum serves as a rallying point for Burkinabés, particularly the youth, who see Sankara as a symbol of resistance against corruption and foreign domination. Movements like Le Balai Citoyen (“The Citizens’ Broom”), inspired by Sankara’s street-cleaning initiatives, played a key role in the 2014 uprising, dubbing it “Revolution 2.0.” Across Africa, Sankara’s image adorns taxis, and his quotes inspire musicians like Senegal’s Didier Awadi. His call to produce and consume locally echoes in modern campaigns for economic independence, while his environmental foresight—planting millions of trees—aligns with today’s climate activism. 

The mausoleum also addresses a psychological need for healing. Paul Sankara, the late president’s brother, described the assassination site as a place of pain where “crimes were committed.” By transforming it into a space of commemoration and education, the government aims to reconcile with this traumatic history. The museum within the complex, featuring sculptures, murals, and archives of the 1983 Revolution, will educate future generations about Sankara’s achievements, ensuring his ideals of integrity and anti-imperialism endure. 

A Global Inspiration 

Sankara’s influence extends beyond Burkina Faso. His speeches, translated into multiple languages, inspire activists across the Global South. In 1987, he denounced colonial-era debts at the Organization of African Unity, a stance that resonates in debt-burdened nations today. His friendship with leaders like Ghana’s Jerry Rawlings and his admiration for Cuba’s revolution positioned him as a non-aligned leader challenging Western hegemony. The mausoleum, as a cultural landmark, is expected to draw international visitors, boosting Burkina Faso’s economy and global standing, as noted by Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo. 

A Living Legacy 

The Thomas Sankara Mausoleum, set for inauguration on May 17, 2025, is more than a monument—it is a bold declaration of Burkina Faso’s commitment to its revolutionary heritage. For Burkinabés, it honors a leader who dared to dream of a self-sufficient, equitable nation, offering a space to mourn, celebrate, and learn. As Francis Kéré’s design breathes life into a site of tragedy, it embodies Sankara’s belief that “the revolution is a component of the movement of humanity towards transformation.” In a world grappling with inequality and neo-colonialism, Sankara’s mausoleum stands as a beacon, reminding Burkinabés and the world that his vision of an upright people endures.