Ouagadougou: The President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traor©, is set to inaugurate the Thomas Sankara Mausoleum on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Ouagadougou, with Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko in attendance. The mausoleum honors Thomas Sankara, a national hero and key figure in the August 1983 revolution, along with his 12 companions who were assassinated on October 15, 1987.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the mausoleum was constructed at the site of their assassination, which has been transformed into a memorial named after Thomas Sankara. The inauguration date was chosen to commemorate the events of May 17, 1983, which marked the beginning of the Democratic and Popular Revolution (DPR) following Sankara’s arrest while serving as Prime Minister of the People’s Salvation Council (CSP).
Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko is on a 48-hour working visit to Ouagadougou and will participate in the inauguration alongside President Traor©. The three-day event will feature a guided tour of the mausoleum for invited countries, a conference-debate titled “The Africa We Dream of According to Thomas Sankara” at the former Economic and Social Council, and street naming ceremonies to honor the 12 companions. These events will be preceded by an evening of discussions on the Sankara Memorial project and an educational conference on Sankara’s life.
The mausoleum, designed by architect Francis K©r©, is part of a broader initiative that includes the construction of the Thomas Sankara Tower and other projects as part of the development of the Sankara Memorial.