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IOL News
3 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Burkina Faso's revolutionary shift under Traoré's leadership
Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the President of Burkina Faso's transition. One thing is clear: Burkina Faso is once again positioning itself at the vanguard of Africa's liberation project. IN Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, a structure has risen that embodies more than just memory: It symbolises vision, renewal, and resistance. It is the Thomas Sankara Mausoleum. The Thomas Sankara Mausoleum, designed by the internationally acclaimed Pritzker Prize-winning Kéré Architecture, is not merely a tribute to a distinctly revolutionary icon. It is a declaration: that the spirit of Sankara is alive, and under the leadership of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the President of Burkina Faso's transition. One thing is clear: Burkina Faso is once again positioning itself at the vanguard of Africa's liberation project. The mausoleum — sleek, dignified, and rooted in African architectural identity — honours the legacy of Thomas Sankara, the pan-Africanist leader assassinated in 1987 (after just four transformative years in power), as well as twelve of Sankara's fellow comrades. The auspicious inauguration of the event was attended by an array of international dignitaries, including South African anti-apartheid activist and former chairperson of the African Union (AU) Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. South Africa's former President Thabo Mbeki, although invited, was unable to attend as he was hosting the 15th Thabo Mbeki Africa Day Lecture in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The erection of this memorial site is a profound and befitting tribute to Sankara, the Burkinabe revolutionary whose influence and reverence were felt both continentally and internationally. This tribute also speaks volumes about today's Burkina Faso. Under the leadership of the significantly popular President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, Burkina Faso has taken dramatic strides towards its advancement. From education and healthcare to infrastructure and security, the country is reclaiming agency over its development. By commissioning and championing this project, President Traoré is not only preserving history, but he is actively invoking it. He is steadfastly reviving the political and philosophical principles that made Sankara both admired and feared: integrity, self-reliance, unapologetic anti-imperialism, and a deep commitment to the African people. The Sankara mausoleum is more than a mere monument; it is a reclaiming of the Burkinabe narrative to a place long shrouded in pain. For decades, the site represented fear and pain, and today, it has been reimagined as a site of power, true leadership, and the positive reconstruction of Burkina Faso's society. This transformation is more than symbolic, it reflects the broader African awakening — a refusal to let our heroes be erased or our futures dictated. This is not just symbolic politics. It is part of a larger revolution Traoré is undertaking, one that seeks to realign Burkina Faso's path away from dependency and toward sovereignty, regional solidarity, and genuine national development. In fact, Traore markedly withdrew Burkina Faso from Ecowas, forming instead the Alliance of Sahel States with Mali and Niger, two nations also run by post-coup administrations. He has also reversed his predecessor's salary increase for government officials, and remained on his military captain earnings, similarly to South Africa's former President Nelson Mandela, and Gabon's military leader, Gen Brice Oligui Nguema. Furthermore, Traore has ended military cooperation agreements with former coloniser France, redirecting security efforts to local and national forces, and emphasising the importance of reclaiming ownership — not only of land and minerals but of policy, narrative, and identity. In many ways, the mausoleum is a fitting metaphor. It roots Burkina Faso in its radical past, while offering a platform for reimagining its future. And that future, under Traoré's guidance, is being shaped in bold and unapologetically African terms. This is the revolution within the revolution, a cultural and psychological shift that echoes Sankara's own emphasis on dignity. It is one thing to control a nation's territory; it is another to inspire its people, to nurture its identity, and to outrightly put the needs of the people at the top of the national mandate. Through Traoré's renewed focus on local agriculture, education, public service delivery, and so much more, Traoré is successfully reconstructing the foundations of Burkinabè society, from the ground up. This is why the Sankara Mausoleum is so immensely invaluable. It is a reminder that leadership is not about personality cults or grandstanding; it is about purpose. Traoré, like Sankara, is leading with vision and intention, rather than from palaces and pompous acts of grandiosity. Critics, particularly in European and Western circles, have cast doubt on the trajectory of Traoré's leadership, particularly the long-term sustainability of Burkina Faso's break from its former strategic partners. However, we must remain wary of the age-old habit of non-Africans speaking on African matters. In fact, any critique of Traore must also be balanced against the undeniable decades of ineffective governance, chronic instability, and external interferences that have brought Burkina Faso to the brink of collapse. Traoré's leadership has proven itself to be rooted in the pan-Africanist belief that Africa can govern itself, defend itself, and define itself, without relying on those who have historically (and continue to) benefit from its vulnerabilities. This leadership model is not limited to Burkina Faso. From Northern Africa's Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) to the Southern African Development Communities (SADC), and beyond, the world is watching Traore intently. Traoré's assertiveness has resonated with citizens across Africa — and beyond — who are sick and tired of corruption, dependency, and underdevelopment despite abundant resources. His actions have rekindled the passionate values of Pan-Africanism, not as a theoretical ideal, but as a practical, implementable, transformational political path. Traoré, propelled by the will of the people rather than elite interests, represents a break from the old order that served foreign agendas more than African futures. The reforms taking root today reflect a broader continental awakening: one where sovereignty, dignity, and justice are no longer negotiable. Traoré is showing us what is possible when leadership listens, acts, and stands firm. The Thomas Sankara Mausoleum is more than a memorial; it is a cornerstone of a new national narrative. It signals to Burkinabè youth, and to African youth everywhere, that we are not condemned to repeat the cycles of the past. We can choose leaders who reflect our values, who honour our history, and who are willing to challenge the structures that have kept us marginalised and grossly underprivileged for far too long. Ibrahim Traoré is far from finished. But what he has begun, from policy reform to cultural renewal, is already shifting the political horizon. The revolution he leads is not just about Burkina Faso's future, it's a profound declaration of what Africa is yet to achieve. As the prolific former leader of Ethiopia, Emperor Haile Selassie once famously stated: 'Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted… that has made it possible for evil to triumph.' If the Sankara Mausoleum is the foundation, then perhaps what follows will be the architecture of a new, sovereign, self-defined Africa. And that, at last, is what true leadership looks like. While many invoke Sankara's legacy, it is Traoré who most visibly fulfils Sankara's revolutionary challenge: 'We must dare to invent the future.' * Tswelopele Makoe is a gender and social justice activist, editor at Global South Media Network ( a researcher and Columnist. She is also an Andrew W Mellon scholar at the Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice, UWC. ** The views expressed here do not reflect those of the Sunday Independent, IOL, or Independent Media.
TimesLIVE
19-05-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Mfeka does U-turn on his resignation from MK Party
The leader of KwaZulu-Natal-based pan-Africanist civic group Injeje yabeNguni, induna Phumlani Mfeka, who resigned from the MK Party in February, has rejoined the party with immediate effect. In a letter dated May 18, addressed to the party provincial convener Willies Mchunu, firebrand Mfeka said: 'I write to inform you of my decision to rejoin the MK Party with immediate effect. 'This decision follows lengthy discussions that culminated in the rekindling of my belief in MK Party as a liberation movement more than as just another political party.' He said amakhosi and traditional healers had played 'a portentous role' in his decision. 'I will remain an awe of the wisdom of the supreme commander president Jacob Zuma and committed to his agenda of realising the total liberation of our people in this lifetime,' he added. Mfeka, one of the founding members of the MK Party, was a member of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature when he resigned. He brought a strong amakhosi constituency to the MK Party. When he resigned he said he had lost confidence in Zuma saying the MK Party had moved away from its core values, which led to its formation. His return to the party followed hot on the heels of Zuma's eldest son, Edward, joining the party at the weekend. Edward was unveiled in a media briefing held at Mzala Nxumalo region. Mfeka and Edward worked together at Mayibuye business forum. Sources close to Mfeka indicated that one of the reasons for his resignation in February was Zuma's decision to promote newcomers to senior positions in the party. In addition, there were reports of alleged disrespect towards amakhosi during the party's first anniversary celebration at Moses Mabhida Stadium in December, where they were allegedly allocated seats in an area that exposed them to the sun.
The Guardian
18-02-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘What a project, what a challenge!': Africa's leading architect gives Thomas Sankara a proper place of rest
Francis Kéré was the first African architect to win the Pritzker prize when he scooped the 'Nobel prize of architecture' in 2022. A native of Gando, a small village in Burkina Faso's Central-East region, Kéré was once criticised by his neighbours for building a school for the village before constructing a house for his parents. But that project has led to commissions including the new parliament building in Benin, the Goethe Institute Dakar and the Las Vegas Museum of Art. 'I wanted to give something to my people, and that has given me an international career,' he says of his decision to build the school. Today, Kéré is back in his home country to take on a project close to his heart – designing a mausoleum in Ouagadougou for Thomas Sankara, the great pan-Africanist leader and former president of Burkina Faso. 'My God, what a project, what a challenge!' Kéré recalls thinking when he first received the proposal. 'This is the first time I've been asked to take on the responsibility of constructing a building in memory of such a great figure.' Sankara, often referred to as 'Africa's Che Guevara', was president of Burkina Faso from 1983 until 1987, and is credited with transforming the former French colony by waging war on corruption, championing education, health and gender equality, and building homes, roads and railways. He was assassinated at the age of 37 during a coup on 15 October 1987 by soldiers led by Sankara's former second-in-command, Blaise Compaoré, who remained in power for 27 years. The mausoleum in memory of Sankara and the 12 aides murdered alongside him is part of a larger project: the Thomas Sankara Memorial, conceived by Burkina Faso's president, Ibrahim Traoré. Building the mausoleum is the first stage of the project. The 14-hectare (35-acre) site is envisioned as a place of 'life and gathering', according to Kéré, a green space where students can study, people can celebrate weddings and visitors can discover the ideals of Sankara's revolution. 'After all, we want this to belong to the people,' he says. The building where the attack took place is preserved at the heart of the memorial, surrounded by water, and the design includes an 87-metre-high tower 'to serve as an urban landmark for the Burkinabè capital', as well as an amphitheatre, restaurants and conference rooms. The first thing that strikes you as you enter the mausoleum is the cool breeze flowing through the space. 'It is all built with laterite and earth, which helps maintain a fresh interior,' says civil engineer Nataniel Sawadogo. 'Do you know Burkina Faso's traditional refrigerator? It's the same principle but in a building,' he adds. Traditionally, and still in some villages, water is cooled in clay jars made from the same type of earth – laterite – that was used to make the mausoleum's orange-hued bricks. These are cut directly from the ground, in this case, from the city of Kaya, 60 miles (100km) away. 'I want people to come in and wonder where the air conditioning is, only to realise there isn't any,' says Kéré. 'That's my mission – to show that with traditional techniques, we can also stay cool.' This is not the first time Kéré has used laterite in his buildings, as he aims to minimise cement usage, reduce transport costs and ensure social benefits. 'If we extract the earth from a village, the villagers will benefit from the work, rather than a big company,' he says. Mounds of laterite and limestone pepper the site, while workers race to complete the project. 'I want it to be simple, playing with shadows and light,' says Kéré. The domed building has small openings, allowing light to filter in during the day and shine out at night, making it visible from the outside. Luc Damiba, secretary general of the International Thomas Sankara Memorial committee, says: 'Visitors will enter from one side and exit from the other, like in Egyptian mausoleums.' Sign up to Global Dispatch Get a different world view with a roundup of the best news, features and pictures, curated by our global development team after newsletter promotion A transporter working onsite tells Sawadogo: 'The earth we're using isn't the same colour as the other, you know?' Sawadogo thanks him for the observation and says: 'Here, everyone has to learn something – he's a transporter, but now he also knows how to distinguish the type of earth we need.' The laterite is analysed in a laboratory to determine its consistency before being used. The mausoleum is oval, shaped like an eye. Inside, at the lower level, lie the bodies – still encased in concrete – of the 12 people killed with Sankara. 'The international committee for the Thomas Sankara Memorial held a lottery to decide who would rest beside Sankara. The only request I got was to make his tomb slightly larger,' says Kéré, who feels 'proud to serve the memory of this great figure'. After his death, Sankara's body was hurriedly buried in a mass grave in the Dagnoën neighbourhood of Ouagadougou. It wasn't until 2014, during the popular uprising that toppled his successor, Compaoré, that his slogans began to echo in the streets again, and under Traoré, Sankara has been officially recognised as the first national hero of the country. Boulevard Charles de Gaulle has been renamed Thomas Sankara Boulevard, and his remains were exhumed and reburied in a more dignified space. Kéré, who is adamant that 'we don't want a place of death and suffering, but rather one full of vitality and life', remembers meeting Sankara when he came to speak to students in Fada Ngourma, the capital of Burkina Faso's Eastern region. 'That day, my legs, hands and heart were trembling, but I had to ask President Sankara what the revolution meant to him and what we, as young people, should do after finishing our studies,' Kéré recalls. 'Who could have known 40 years later, I would be building his place of rest. This is the power of architecture. This is what architecture can do.'
