The inauguration of the Thomas Sankara Mausoleum.

Chadian Prime Minister arrives in Ouagadougou to attend the inauguration of the Thomas Sankara Mausoleum. Vibrant Tribute to Thomas Sankara in Ouagadougou On May 17, leaders from across Africa gathered in Ouagadougou to inaugurate the Thomas Sankara Mausoleum. Here's what they shared with Sputnik Africa: "The mausoleum is a memorial project that commemorates the rebirth of Thomas Sankara and his 12 companions, and above all, the rebirth of his ideals," declared Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, Prime Minister of Burkina Faso. Ousmane Sonko, Senegalese Prime Minister, emphasized Sankara's universal significance: "Sankara is not just Burkinabe; Sankara belongs to Africa today. He belongs to Senegal, to Chad, to Ghana, to all of Africa. He belongs to all the fighting peoples of Africa and elsewhere. So I think it is this symbolism that makes this day a historic one." Sonko emphasized the importance of collective memory, stating that a major problem in Africa is the inability to preserve and share its memories with future generations, leading to a false perception of being "orphans of history." Pan-Africanist Lianhoué Imhotep Bayala praised architect Diébédo Francis Kéré: "He is not an American or Australian brain, he is Burkinabé pride, he is national pride, born in the genius of a man named Kéré. And today, we are creating 'made in Burkina"' products to show that Thomas Sankara's words were not in vain." The mausoleum's architecture, rooted in African culture, was celebrated by Sampawendé Ouedraogo of the International Memorial Committee: "It's an architecture that draws its roots from our cultural values, but also opens up to the world. It's a very well-adapted, very well-thought-out architecture." Maurice Konaté, the Mayor of Ouagadougou, described the mausoleum as a symbol of hope: "The mausoleum inaugurated in Ouagadougou is a good place for people to experience and rekindle the hope of the African people." Finally, Labsime Labidi Naaba, a civil society activist, expressed his pride: "The mausoleum is a magnificent masterpiece. When I visited it, I honestly felt a sense of pride, a sense of joy, a sense of dignity to see here, alongside, Comrade Captain Thomas Sankara and his 12 companions thus honored." The mausoleum is a historic moment for Africa, with an architecture that, as the committee aptly puts it, "already speaks of Africa!" Who was Thomas Sankara? Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara (1949–1987) was a Burkinabè military officer, Marxist revolutionary, and Pan-Africanist who served as President of Burkina Faso from 1983 until his assassination in 1987. He came to power through a popular coup and is known for his radical social, economic, and ecological reforms aimed at self-reliance and anti-imperialism. Key achievements during his presidency include: Renaming the country from Upper Volta to Burkina Faso, meaning "Land of Upright People". Launching a nationwide vaccination campaign that immunized 2.5 million children against diseases like meningitis and measles. Increasing literacy rates from 13% to 73% through a mass literacy campaign. Planting over 10 million trees to combat desertification. Promoting women's rights by appointing women to high government positions and outlawing forced marriages. Redistributing land to peasants and boosting local agricultural production to achieve food self-sufficiency. Rejecting foreign aid and loans from institutions like the IMF to maintain national sovereignty. Sankara was a charismatic and visionary leader but also faced opposition due to his rapid and sometimes authoritarian reforms. His government established revolutionary tribunals and defense committees that sometimes suppressed dissent. He was assassinated in a coup led by his former ally Blaise Compaoré in 1987. Sankara remains an iconic figure in Africa, often called "Africa's Che Guevara" for his revolutionary ideals and commitment to social justice and Pan-Africanism. Upon his arrival, Allah-Maye Halina*1 was greeted on the tarmac of Burkina Faso's airport by Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo*2. Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko*3 was also welcomed in Ouagadougou. *1) Allah-Maye Halina, also known as Allamaye Halina, is a Chadian diplomat and statesman born on January 1, 1967, in Gounou Gaya, Chad. He has been serving as the Prime Minister of Chad since May 23, 2024. He holds a bachelor's degree in history and geography from the University of N'Djamena and a master's degree in international relations from the International Relations Institute of Cameroon. Before becoming prime minister, he was Chief of Protocol for President Idriss Déby from 2010 to 2023 and then served as Chad’s ambassador to China in 2023. Appointed by President Mahamat Idriss Déby following the 2024 presidential election, Halina is seen as a loyal technocrat who supports the president's agenda without political rivalry. He aims for Chad to achieve energy independence by 2034 and to host the African Cup of Nations. He was reappointed prime minister in early 2025 after the formation of the new National Assembly, signaling continuity in Chad’s government policies. Halina is active in diplomacy and governance, engaging with international leaders such as the UN Secretary-General on regional and humanitarian issues. In summary, Allah-Maye Halina is the current Prime Minister of Chad, a seasoned diplomat with a background in protocol and international relations, focused on national development and stability *2) Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, born December 26, 1980, in Ouagadougou, is a Burkinabe journalist and politician. He has been Prime Minister of Burkina Faso since December 7, 2024, appointed by transitional President Ibrahim Traoré. Before his appointment as Prime Minister, Ouédraogo had a notable career in the media, notably at Radiodiffusion-Télévision du Burkina (RTB), where he served as editor-in-chief and then director of the television channel from 2016 to 2022. He is known for playing a key role during the September 2022 coup d'état by enabling Ibrahim Traoré to announce his seizure of power live on national television. Following this coup, he was appointed Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts, and Tourism, as well as Spokesperson for the transitional government from 2022 to 2024. In this position, he oversaw a controversial reform of the High Council for Communication and a severe restriction of press freedom in Burkina Faso, with the suspension of several media outlets critical of the regime. He holds a degree in Information and Communication Sciences and a Master's degree in Mediation and Conflict Management from Joseph Ki-Zerbo University. In summary, Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo is a journalist turned politician, close to junta leader Ibrahim Traoré, who rose quickly through the ranks to become Prime Minister in 2024, after having been a key player in the 2022 coup and Minister of Communication. *3) Ousmane Sonko is a Senegalese politician born on July 15, 1974, in Thiès. He is currently serving as the 16th Prime Minister of Senegal since April 2024 and is the leader of the political party PASTEF, which he founded in 2014. Before entering politics, Sonko was a tax official for 15 years and became known as a whistleblower exposing tax evasion involving offshore havens. He ran for president in 2019, finishing third, and became a major opposition figure against former President Macky Sall. His arrest in 2019 on sexual assault allegations sparked widespread protests. He was later sentenced to two years in prison in 2023 for "corruption of the youth," and his party was dissolved by the government the same year. After Bassirou Diomaye Faye won the 2024 presidential election, Sonko was appointed Prime Minister. Since taking office, he has criticized French military presence in Senegal and Western promotion of values like LGBT rights and monogamy, calling for reforms in regional organizations like ECOWAS. He has also pursued peace efforts in the Casamance conflict and announced investigations into corruption under the previous administration. Sonko remains a significant and controversial figure in Senegalese politics, balancing reformist ambitions with a nationalist and socially conservative stance https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1HHvQy345F/