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October 15, 2007

Celebration and Commemoration

Today, the 15th October 2007, is the 20th anniversary of two related events: the coup that brought the current president of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaore to power; and the death of Thomas Sankara, the former president and Compaore's long-time friend and right-hand man, killed in that coup.

Today's anniversary is a tale of two Burkina Faso presidents, a celebration of one, and a commemoration of the other.

Celebrating 20 years of Compaore's Presidency
The current administration, will be hosting celebrations of its 20 years in power, with marches, concerts, and a conference on "democracy and development in Africa" to which several heads of state are expected. Compaore is one of Africa's longest ruling heads of state now, and is beginning to take a role of elder statesman, intervening for example to host the peace talks for Cote d'Ivoire.

Certainly, after a spate of coups up to 1987, Burkina Faso has since experienced stability, peace, growth, and the introduction of multi-party democracy and press freedom. Despite scandals over the death of Norbert Zongo, support for Charles Taylor, and allegations of alleged interference in the civil war in Cote d'Ivoire, and of providing Joseph Savimbi with fuel and weapons in exchange for diamonds, there has still been no successful co-ordinated opposition to Campaore. As commentators observed after the last elections: "yes, they were free and fair - the opposition was so divided, and Campaore so well-known and well-financed, he didn't need to cheat." Compared with most of its surrounding neighbours, Burkina Faso has done well, and is now interesting potential investors, especially gold mining companies, who see Burkina as the future gold-producing capital of West Africa.

So, supporters of the government may well consider they have much to celebrate from 20 years of Compaore rule.

Commemorating 20 years since Sankara' Death
By comparison, as I wrote earlier, "Thomas Sankara headed a revolution that forged the country's modern identity. He was strongly ideological, anti-corruption, and a supporter of women's equality. He banned female circumsision and prostitution, condemned polygamy, and introduced a campaign that in 15 days vaccinated 3 million children against yellow fever, measles, and meningitis. However, his attempts to radicalise the population made him enemies and led to extremes, including the thuggery of his "shock troops" the CDR, and the execution of enemies." Yet his initiatives to help Burkina develop made a huge impact, and today he is remembered by many as a hero who stood with and for the Burkinabe people. His death will be commemorated passionately by many today.

They will have their own conference, to "conceptualise Sankarism", their own concert, and there will be a procession to Sankara's tomb. The caravan "Mémoires de Braises et Futurs, Tom Sank 2007" will also arrive in Ouaga. Composed of 22 artists, musicians, technicians and lecturers, the caravan uses music, drama, poetry, photo exhibition, film projections, conferences-debates to make the thought and action of Thomas Sankara better known. It started on 8 Sep in Mexico, and will have crossed 10 countries to arrive in Ouagadougou on 15 October.

Sankara's supporters today will view today's anniversary with different eyes.

So, one anniversary, two different perspectives. Let us hope it all goes off peacefully.

Tags: africa burkina burkina faso sahel compaore thomas sankara blaise compaore sankara anniversary coup

Posted by Keith at October 15, 2007 07:29 AM