| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
| Became President | October 15, 1987 |
| Predecessor | Thomas Sankara |
| Date of Birth | February 3, 1951 |
| Place of Birth | Ouagadougou |
Blaise Compaoré, born on February 3, 1951 in Ouagadougou, Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) is a Burkina Faso politician. Blaise Compaoré had the grad of Captain in the Burkinabé army, and served as minister of Justice during Thomas Sankara's presidency. He became president of his country on October 15, 1987 in a bloody coup d'état that killed his predecessor Thomas Sankara. He is the founder of the ruling political party, the Congress for Democracy and Progress.
Blaise Compaoré met Thomas Sankara in 1976 in a military training center in Morrocco since that date Compaoré and Sankara were supposed to be close friends. Blaise Compaoré played a major role in the coup against Saye Zerbo and Jean-Baptiste Ouedraogo.
After the coup that killed Thomas Sankara Compaoré stated that it was an accident. He reverted many of the policies of Sankara, claiming that his policy was a "rectification" of the Burkinabé revolution.
Soon after became President he also eliminated two major revolutionnary leaders Henri Zongo and Jean-Baptiste Boukary Lingani accused of plotting against the regime.
The accession of Compaoré to the Presidency of the Faso gave the country a political stability it was lacking of. Finally Blaise Compaoré managed to give Burkina Faso democratic institutions and freedom of Press. However President Blaise Compaoré and his Presidential Guard have been implaciated in the death of reporter Norbert Zongo and continued intimidation of the media in Burkina Faso according to Reporters Without Borders.
Blaise Compaoré was also sued for assasination by Mariam Sankara, Thomas Sankara's widow. Despite the fact that he proposed a "National reconciliation" he wasn't followed by most of the opposition.
| Preceded by: Thomas Sankara |
President of Burkina Faso | Succeeded by: - |