Ouagadougou: Burkina Faso officially launched the Thomas Sankara Crossroads International Meetings this Monday in Ouagadougou, a five-day event designed to perpetuate the memory and ideals of the illustrious revolutionary Pan-Africanist.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the event was inaugurated by the Minister of Communication, Gilbert Pingdwende Ouedraogo, who welcomed the attendees and described Burkina Faso as a “crossroads of African cultures and a land of hope.” He highlighted Ouagadougou’s significance as the heart of the Burkinabe Revolution and a beacon of ideals such as freedom, dignity, and sovereignty that continue to inspire the African continent and beyond.
The minister further emphasized the historical continuity between the People’s Democratic Revolution and the current People’s Progressive Revolution, led by President Ibrahim Traore. He asserted that this governance aligns with the spirit of Thomas Sankara, reinforcing the country’s rejection of humiliation and servitude while upholding the dignity of its people.
Gilbert Pingdwende Ouedraogo also noted that the Thomas Sankara Memorial, along with his 12 companions, serves as a living symbol of enduring ideas that transcend generations and manifest as acts of freedom and progress.
The international meeting was described as a crossroads of ideas and a laboratory of actions. It brings together participants committed to transforming discussions into tangible projects for youth, culture, development, and the sovereignty of African nations.
Mr. Ouedraogo paid tribute to iconic figures of African liberation, including Kwame Nkrumah, Patrice Lumumba, Amlcar Cabral, Steve Biko, Samora Machel, and Cheikh Anta Diop, underscoring their enduring influence on new generations across the continent.
He urged participants to use the meetings as a platform for reflection, experience sharing, and concrete action, with the aim of translating words into commitment and ensuring that the resulting projects enhance the sovereignty and dignity of African peoples.
Retired Colonel Daouda Traore, chairman of the Thomas Sankara Memorial steering committee, emphasized the event’s role as a hub of exchange and unity for the people of Burkina Faso and beyond, declaring, “We are here to become like Sankara and continue his fight.”
Etienne Lompo, coordinator of the Memorial project, remarked that this inaugural edition is taking place while the Memorial is still under construction. He sees it as an opportunity to promote the values of development and unity across Africa.