THOMAS SANKARA

On this day 75 years ago, Africa's Best President Ever was born.

In 4 years, Thomas Sankara Built 350 schools, roads, railways without foreign aid, Increased the literacy rate by 60%. Banned forced marriages, Gave poor people land, Vaccinated 2.5 million kids, Planted 10 million trees, Stopped French imperialism.

Thomas Sankara only had $350 in his bank account, a cheap Renault 5 car, 4 bikes, 3 guitars, a refrigerator, and a broken freezer at the time of his death.

Before his tenure, Ministers used Mercedes Benz cars. He sold them and bought cheap Renault 5 cars for them to save costs.

Thomas Sankara refused to have his portraits hung publicly. He renamed the country, Burkina Faso (Land of Honest Men) and composed the National Anthem.

He reduced the salaries of Government officials including his own.

He withdrew Burkina Faso from the IMF.

Thomas Sankara banned female genital mutilation.

He was murdered by his best friend, Blaise Compaoré who ruled Burkina Faso for 27 years (1987 to 2014).

He became Burkina Faso's President at the age of 33 in 1983, and served until he was murdered on October 15, 1987.