Archivo por días: 14 octubre, 2012

Thomas Sankara: an African leader with a message for Europe

By Nick Dearden, Jubilee Debt Campaign UK. Published at Red pepper, October 2012

15 October marks the 25th anniversary of the assassination of an African liberation hero. We need to remember him, to challenge the dominant view of Africa’s helplessness and to fight our own debt crisis in Europe. 

On 15 October 1987 a revolution was brought to an abrupt and bloody end by the murder of Thomas Sankara, President of the newly named state of Burkina Faso. In the years following Sankara’s assassination, by his once trusted friend Blaise Compaoré who runs Burkina Faso to this day, his revolution was overturned and the country became just another African fiefdom of the International Monetary Fund. But for a brief period of 4 years, Burkina Faso shone brightly, a stunning example of what can be achieved even in one of the world’s most impoverished countries.

Sankara was a junior officer in the army of Upper Volta, a former French colony which was run as a source of cheap labour for neighbouring Corte ‘d’Ivoire to benefit a tiny ruling class and their patrons in Paris. As a student in Madagascar, Sankara had been radicalised by waves of demonstrations and strikes taking place. In 1981, he was appointed to the military government in Upper Volta, but his outspoken support for the liberation of ordinary people in his country and outside eventually led to his arrest. In August 1983, a successful coup led by his friend Blaise Compaoré, brought him to power at the age of only 33. Sigue leyendo

Thomas Sankara: an African leader with a message for Europe

By Nick Dearden, Jubilee Debt Campaign UK. Published at Red pepper, October 2012

15 October marks the 25th anniversary of the assassination of an African liberation hero. We need to remember him, to challenge the dominant view of Africa’s helplessness and to fight our own debt crisis in Europe. 

On 15 October 1987 a revolution was brought to an abrupt and bloody end by the murder of Thomas Sankara, President of the newly named state of Burkina Faso. In the years following Sankara’s assassination, by his once trusted friend Blaise Compaoré who runs Burkina Faso to this day, his revolution was overturned and the country became just another African fiefdom of the International Monetary Fund. But for a brief period of 4 years, Burkina Faso shone brightly, a stunning example of what can be achieved even in one of the world’s most impoverished countries.

Sankara was a junior officer in the army of Upper Volta, a former French colony which was run as a source of cheap labour for neighbouring Corte ‘d’Ivoire to benefit a tiny ruling class and their patrons in Paris. As a student in Madagascar, Sankara had been radicalised by waves of demonstrations and strikes taking place. In 1981, he was appointed to the military government in Upper Volta, but his outspoken support for the liberation of ordinary people in his country and outside eventually led to his arrest. In August 1983, a successful coup led by his friend Blaise Compaoré, brought him to power at the age of only 33. Sigue leyendo

Thomas Sankara: un líder africano con un mensaje para Europa

De Nick Dearden, de Jubilee Debt Campaign UK. Publicado en inglés en Red Pepper Octubre 2012

15 de octubre se cumple el 25º aniversario del asesinato de un héroe de la liberación africana. Tenemos que recordarlo, para desafiar la visión dominante de la impotencia de África y combatir nuestra propia crisis de deuda en Europa.
El 15 de octubre de 1987 una revolución llegó a su abrupto y sangriento final con el asesinato de Thomas Sankara, presidente del nuevo estado nombrado Burkina Faso. En los años siguientes al asesinato de Sankara, por su otrora amigo de confianza Blaise Compaoré que dirige Burkina Faso hasta hoy, su revolución fue revocada y el país se convirtió en otro feudo en África del Fondo Monetario Internacional. Pero por un breve periodo de 4 años, Burkina Faso brillaba, un buen ejemplo de lo que puede lograrse incluso en uno de los países más empobrecidos del mundo.

Sankara fue un joven oficial del ejército del Alto Volta, una ex colonia francesa que se gestionaba como una fuente de mano de obra barata para la vecina Costa de Marfil en beneficio de una pequeña clase gobernante y sus patrocinadores en París. Como estudiante en Madagascar, Sankara se había radicalizado por las oleadas de manifestaciones y huelgas que tengan lugar allí. En 1981, fue nombrado miembro del gobierno militar en el Alto Volta, pero su abierto apoyo a la liberación de la gente común en su país y fuera de éste, finalmente le llevó a su detención. En agosto de 1983, un golpe de estado liderado por su amigo Blaise Compaoré, lo llevó al poder a la edad de sólo 33 años. Sigue leyendo