The Burkinabe government has officially inaugurated a new mausoleum in Ouagadougou to honor former President Thomas Sankara and his 12 companions, who were assassinated on October 15, 1987.
The ceremony took place over the weekend to coincide with the anniversary of Sankara’s arrest in 1983, during his tenure as Prime Minister under the People’s Salvation Council regime. Burkina Faso’s Prime Minister Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo chaired the event on behalf of the President of Faso, alongside visiting prime ministers from Senegal and Chad, as well as numerous political, administrative, and military figures. The three heads of government paid tribute by laying wreaths at Sankara’s tomb.
The newly constructed mausoleum, designed in the shape of an eye, stands over seven meters tall and includes descending steps symbolizing the 13 martyrs. Thomas Sankara’s tomb is placed at the center, surrounded by those of his companions—six on each side.
The structure serves both as a commemorative site and as a symbol of the enduring legacy of Sankara’s revolutionary leadership. A 21-gun salute was fired in their honor, and streets in the capital have been named after the 12 companions, while an avenue already commemorates Captain Sankara himself.
The memorial aims to preserve their political legacy and offer a dignified final resting place.
