Thomas Sankara's Deviation and Dilemma

Thomas Sankara, known as the restless president, has a radical idea. After taking office, he was bent on transforming Burkina Faso into a new society without exploitation and justice. Due to his lack of knowledge and experience in economic construction and governing the country, and lack of technology and management means, he copied the revolutionary theories and experiences of some countries (mainly Cuba, Libya and Ghana), ignored his own national conditions and specific reality, constantly strengthened state control over industry and commerce, unilaterally emphasized self-reliance, restricted imports, implemented the economic policy of "tightening his belt", canceled ministerial subsidies, reduced the number of employees and wages, and conducted extensive apportionment. During his four years in power, these radical policies and practices to narrow the "urban-rural gap" and eradicate "privileges" have harmed the interests of some people (mainly social elites and dignitaries), resulting in the deterioration of national industrial and agricultural production, the scarcity of goods on the shelves, soaring prices, a 30% decline in the real purchasing power of urban residents, and many technical and management talents have flowed abroad, and the majority of villagers have complained bitterly.

In the political field, Sankara, under the banner of "People's Democratic Revolution", "targeted the bourgeoisie". Driven by the masses of workers and peasants, the former government officials were regarded as "revolutionary resistance" and were purged, gradually alienating their comrades-in-arms and colleagues who shared weal and woe and made outstanding contributions, and repelling and attacking the African Independence Party, which had cooperated in the * * * incident. 1after the attempted coup on may 27, 984, several independent party ministers in the government were all dismissed. As a result of extensive political cleansing, Sankara almost became a member of the highest leadership of the army.

Diplomatically, Sankara posed as the head of a "progressive country" and attacked neighboring countries at will. Because he called C? te d 'Ivoire, Mali, Togo and Niger "backward" or even "reactionary" countries, these neighboring countries alienated Burkina Faso. Sankara attaches great importance to relations with individual African countries, such as Libya and Ghana. Burkina Faso is increasingly weak and isolated in West Africa.

After Thomas Sankara became the supreme leader of the country, he gradually developed political differences and contradictions with his former close friend Bryce Compaore. The struggle between them developed along a secret, open, sharp and explosive "track". Sankara's series of extreme policies put the country in trouble, which caused opposition from some senior officials such as Blaise Compaore. In particular, Sankara followed suit and monopolized power. On major issues, he often made important decisions on his own without collective consultation, especially without listening to the opinions of Compaore and others, which became the embodiment of arbitrariness. 1983 On the eve of the fourth anniversary of the August 4th Revolution, Sankara proposed to dissolve the national leftist organization and establish a unified political party in Burkina Faso led by him, which was rejected by Compaore and others. This defeat is a heavy blow to Sankara politically.

1In August 1987, the revolution in Burkina Faso entered a rest stage, and Sankara began to adjust its domestic and foreign policies. From August to September, the wrestling and contradictions between him and Blaise Compaore and other military and political officials were completely open and sharp. During this period, leaflets attacking Compaore and others appeared on the streets of Ouagadougou with the slogan "Whoever opposes Sankara is counter-revolutionary". At the same time, Sankara clearly realized that Blaise Compaore was the Minister of State and Commander of the Fifth Military Region in Ouagadougou, and was responsible for the security of the capital Ouagadougou. Jean-batiste Lingani, Compaore's close friend, is the Minister of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and the military power is in Kong He's hands. This is Sankara's shortcoming. In order to be invincible, it is urgent to form an armed force loyal to itself. 10 14 10. In October, Sankara seized the opportunity of Compaore not attending the cabinet meeting, and hastily announced the establishment of an "intervention force" to be responsible for "supervision and security". This unit is led by Nongma Ernest Ouedraogo, Minister of Territorial Administration and Innovation (a confidant and civil servant of Sankara) and under the command of the Presidential Guard. In fact, before this meeting, this unit was equipped with weapons. Ernest said bluntly at the cabinet meeting: "We have been dealing with the enemy for a long time, and now it is time to deal with our friends." This threatening remark implies murder.

Just as Thomas Sankara was sharpening his knife, he wanted to issue an arrest warrant and prepare to kill. Unexpectedly, the secret is not secret, and the secret is leaked. When Blaise Compaore and others learned of Sankara's plot, they were unwilling to lay down and die, determined to arm themselves immediately and fight to the death. This directly led to the1987 "10.15" coup, and Sankara was killed.