Ouagadougou – In a significant community effort, the maintenance and beautification works on Boulevard Thomas Sankara were initiated on Saturday by the Homeland or Nothing Movement (MPR) in Ouagadougou. The project, which includes landscaping and cleanup activities, is set to be completed by December 21.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the technical advisor to the president of the special delegation of the commune of Ouagadougou, this initiative was launched to develop the boulevard, named after the iconic Burkinabe leader Thomas Sankara. Cissé expressed gratitude and appreciation for the MPR’s efforts, noting the boulevard’s symbolic significance in remembering Captain Thomas Sankara’s contributions to Burkina Faso, Africa, and the world.
Dr. Jean-Hubert Bazié, the communications officer of the Thomas Sankara memorial, representing the International Committee of the Thomas Sankara Memorial (CIMTS), also praised the community’s involvement in the project. He was particularly impressed by the character of the mobilization, highlighting the participants’ selfless acts, determination, and patriotism. Dr. Bazié encouraged the youth to embody the spirit of Thomas Sankara, suggesting the transformation of various avenues in Burkina Faso into representations of Sankara’s ideals of freedom and resistance against oppression.
Sawadogo Hamidou, the national president of the Homeland or Nothing Movement, mentioned that the MPR’s involvement in this project is part of their support for the Transition authorities. He announced that the project’s completion is expected by December 15, with an official reception ceremony planned for December 21, Thomas Sankara’s birthday.
The beautification project has mobilized over two hundred young volunteers who will engage in tree planting, ground markings, and the placement of trash cans along the boulevard. This initiative not only enhances the boulevard’s aesthetic but also serves as a tribute to Thomas Sankara’s legacy.
The naming of the former avenue Charles de Gaulle as Boulevard Thomas Sankara was officiated by the President of the Transition, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, on October 15, 2023, during the commemoration of the 36th anniversary of Sankara’s assassination. This renaming in Ouagadougou marks a significant acknowledgment of Sankara’s enduring impact and legacy in Burkina Faso.