Sankara’s Legacy Lives On: Burkina Faso Revives Iconic ‘Country or Death’ Slogan

The transitional parliament in Burkina Faso voted on a draft constitutional amendment that restores the state slogan during the life of the late former president Thomas Sankara, “Country or Death… We will not prevail,” instead of “Unity – Progress – Justice. “

The Senate voted unanimously in favor of the constitutional amendment, which will be presented to the Constitutional Council, before being announced by the acting President of Burkinabé, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

According to the Burkinabe authorities, the adoption of the old slogan comes after a period of strong presence in the speeches and outings of officials, and the great popular support for it, adopted by Burkina Faso during the Sankara era.

Thomas Sankara came to power in a military coup on August 4, 1983, and was killed in 1987 in a coup led by Blaise Compaore.

During his rule, Sankar made many reforms in Burkina Faso, most notably changing the country’s name from Upper Volta to Burkina Faso.

Burkina Faso is now ruled by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who came to power through a military coup he led in 2022, and the transitional period extends for five years, with the possibility of him running in the presidential elections , after their end in 2029.