YOU CAN ESTABLISH A THRONE THROUGH A BAYONET, BUT YOU WILL NOT SIT ON IT FOR LONG! Blaise Compaore, one of Africas longest serving Presidents announced his resignation today after 27 years of rule. The announcement came after tens of thousands of Burkinabes took to the streets to protest his attempts to alter the countrys constitution to enable him to remain in office for a fifth consecutive term. Compaore has ruled the West African nation since 1987 after he helped assassinate Thomas Sankara - arguably one of Africas most revolutionary leaders. Often referred to as Africas Che Guevara - Thomas Sankara initiated a national literacy and immunization campaign that oversaw 2 million children vaccinated for meningitis, yellow fever and measles. Moreover, he worked tirelessly to enact socio-economic policies that centred on anti-imperialism by nationalizing all land and the nations natural resources. Sankara was also an ardent advocate of gender equality - enacting affirmative action policies that were decades before their time - internationally and continentally. His dedication to womens rights is reflected in his policies that banned forced marriages, polygamy and female genital mutilation while actively working to promote women in governmental positions. He famously said, Comrades, there is no true social revolution without the liberation of women. May my eyes never see and my feet never take me to a society where half the people are held in silence. I hear the roar of womens silence. I sense the rumble of their storm and feel the fury of their revolt. Despite only serving as Burkina Fasos president for four years, Sankara has left an indelible imprint on the country and the Continent. He is responsible for changing the name of the country from its colonial title as The Upper Volta to Burkino Faso which means the Land of the Incorruptible People, as well as writing the countrys national anthem. His creative innovation, patriotism and integrity knew no bounds. Such virtues, I believe are represented best by the fact that Sankara refused to have his portrait ostentatiously exhibited throughout the country, stating that There are seven million Thomas Sankaras. In the upcoming weeks, as Burkinabes experience their first taste of democracy I hope they remain mindful of Sankaras strategies and unite to carry on where he left off. See!
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 14:24:16 +0000
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