Burkina Faso honors Sankara in monthly military tribute
Burkina Faso held its third monthly military ceremony in homage to Captain Thomas Sankara and his twelve companions on Thursday, January 8, at the memorial named after the father of the Burkinabe Revolution.
Presided over by Barthélémy Kéré, President of the Constitutional Council, the ritual held every first Thursday of the month reaffirms the nation’s patriotic commitment during its transitional period.
At exactly 3 p.m., under a scorching sun, the honor escort band of the National Gendarmerie performed military honors, while horses, symbols of glory and state service, paraded solemnly.
Initiated by Transitional President Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the ceremony aims to anchor the memory of national heroes in the public consciousness and transmit their ideals to future generations.
Kéré praised the “educational and patriotic” initiative, describing Sankara as a “awakener of consciousness, builder of dignity, and revolutionary of integrity.”
He stressed that ²the famous motto of Thomas Sankara, “The Homeland or Death, We Shall overcome!” represents an inner commitment to sacrifice and fidelity to the people’s interest.
Beyond symbolism, the event reinforces a moral and institutional vision. Kéré emphasized that no constitution thrives without upright citizens, patriotic leaders, and disciplined defense forces aware of their historic mission.
Amid ongoing security and political challenges, this monthly tribute fosters national unity, keeping the Sankarist legacy of integrity, sovereignty, and sacrifice as a guiding compass for Burkina Faso’s determined path forward.
Olivier TOE
