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Burkina Faso's military leaders turn to 'Africa's Che Guevara' to rally struggling country

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Burkina Faso's military leaders turn to 'Africa's Che Guevara' to rally struggling country
News

News

Burkina Faso's military leaders turn to 'Africa's Che Guevara' to rally struggling country

2025-05-21 18:45 Last Updated At:18:50

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — The military rulers of Burkina Faso have turned to a man once known as “Africa’s Che Guevara" as a way to rally a country struggling to defeat extremists and turning away from former Western allies.

Hundreds of young people gathered over the weekend in the capital, Ouagadougou, for the opening of a mausoleum for legendary leader Thomas Sankara.

“I’m the driver of the revolution!" one young man exclaimed with delight, sitting behind the wheel of the jeep that Sankara used during his presidency decades ago.

A charismatic Marxist leader who seized global attention by defiantly declaring his country could rely on itself, Sankara came to power in 1983 at the age of 33 after he and former ally Blaise Compaore led a leftist coup that overthrew a moderate military faction. But in 1987, Compaore turned on his former friend in a coup that killed Sankara in the capital — and later became president himself.

Nearly four decades after his death, Sankara is being celebrated in Burkina Faso, a nation of 23 million people once known for its bustling arts scene and vibrant intellectual life — including Sankara's anti-imperialist and pan-African legacy.

“When I stepped inside the mausoleum, I felt the revolution,” said Timoté, a 22-year-old who said he came because of what he heard about Sankara at home and at school.

Sankara's mausoleum, designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning architect Francis Kéré, has been the project of current military leader Capt. Ibrahim Traore.

Since taking power during a coup in 2022, Traore has presented himself as the new Sankara. He has named one of the main streets after the revolutionary leader, elevated him to the rank of Hero of the Nation and revived revolutionary slogans such as “Fatherland or death, we will win!” in most of his speeches.

The mission of the mausoleum is "to keep the flame of the revolution alive and to remind the world of Capt. Thomas Sankara’s fight to break the chains of slavery and imperialist domination,” Burkina Faso Prime Minister Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo said as he read Traore's statement.

Despite promising to fight the security crisis that pushed them to stage a coup, Burkina Faso's military leaders have struggled to deal with the worsening crisis. According to conservative estimates, more than 60% of the country is now outside of government control, more than 2 million people have lost their homes and almost 6.5 million need humanitarian aid to survive.

Human rights groups say the military leadership has installed a system of de facto censorship, crushing critics, while many have been killed by jihadi groups or government forces.

As people flocked to Ouagadougou to celebrate Sankara, life elsewhere in the country reflects a different reality.

“We can go out for a bit in the city center, but with caution,” said one student from Dori, the capital of the northern region, echoing concerns about restrictions on free speech and movement.

The student spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being arrested.

Security concerns have permeated every aspect of life outside Ouagadougou. Even the price of beer has skyrocketed as more places become inaccessible to traders.

“There are two Burkina Fasos,” said a teacher from the east, speaking on condition of anonymity for safety reasons. “One where the streets are deserted at night, and another that comes alive to enjoy the cool evening air.”

A view of the entrance of the newly inaugurated mausoleum for Burkina Faso's legendary leader Thomas Sankara in Ouagadougou, Saturday, May 17, 2025 (AP Photo/Elia Borras)

A view of the entrance of the newly inaugurated mausoleum for Burkina Faso's legendary leader Thomas Sankara in Ouagadougou, Saturday, May 17, 2025 (AP Photo/Elia Borras)

People attend the inauguration of the mausoleum for Burkina Faso's legendary leader Thomas Sankara in Ouagadougou, Saturday, May 17, 2025 (AP Photo/Elia Borras)

People attend the inauguration of the mausoleum for Burkina Faso's legendary leader Thomas Sankara in Ouagadougou, Saturday, May 17, 2025 (AP Photo/Elia Borras)

People visit the newly inaugurated mausoleum for Burkina Faso's legendary leader Thomas Sankara in Ouagadougou, Saturday, May 17, 2025 (AP Photo/Elia Borras)

People visit the newly inaugurated mausoleum for Burkina Faso's legendary leader Thomas Sankara in Ouagadougou, Saturday, May 17, 2025 (AP Photo/Elia Borras)

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Astros' top prospect Brice Matthews looks to improve after struggling in MLB debut

2025-07-12 12:15 Last Updated At:12:20

HOUSTON (AP) — It was a rough major league debut for Houston top prospect Brice Matthews on Friday night.

But the Astros are confident that he'll learn from his first game to be better moving forward.

Batting eighth and playing second base, Matthews went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in a 7-3 loss to the Texas Rangers. He struck out in his first three at-bats before he was retired on a fly out in the ninth inning.

“I just want him to build from that last at-bat,” manager Joe Espada said. “He hit that ball hard. You could take a lot of positives from today. No. 1 I thought he handled himself really well, had confidence and he was asking the right questions in between at-bats, and also seeing how they're going to attack (him). There was a lot to learn from that first game.”

Matthews said he started to feel better at the plate after a couple of at-bats.

“I feel like as the night went on my at-bats got better, I got more comfortable out there,” he said. “And just seeing the fight and these guys they never quit, so it makes me wanna play even harder for them. So I’ll continue to do that.”

Matthews, an infielder rated as the organization’s top prospect by MLB.com, was hitting .283 with 12 doubles, five triples, 10 home runs and 39 RBIs in 73 games for Sugar Land this season. He has a .400 on-base percentage and a .476 slugging percentage. His team-leading 25 stolen bases rank fourth in the Pacific Coast League.

Matthews, who has primarily played second base this season, was taken 28th overall by the Astros in the 2023 amateur draft. He had a great June where he earned the organization’s minor league player of the month honors after hitting .306 with six doubles, three triples, four home runs and 16 RBIs in 25 games.

The 23-year-old hit for the cycle on May 10 against Sacramento when he went 4 for 6 with two RBIs.

Playing for the team he grew up rooting for was a dream come true for Matthews, who was born in Houston and attended high school in a nearby suburb.

“It was a whirlwind,” he said. “It was a lot of fun, just awesome atmosphere. Coming to these games as a kid, so to be on the other side of it and be able to play, it was a great feeling. We didn't get the job done today, but I'll cherish this moment forever.”

The move comes as the Astros placed outfielder Jake Meyers on the 10-day injured list with a right calf strain retroactive to Thursday. They also transferred INF/OF Zach Dezenzo to the 60-day injured list to make room for Matthews on the 40-man roster.

The injury to Meyers is another setback for the Astros, who were already without shortstop Jeremy Peña and slugger Yordan Alvarez because of injuries. Meyers has had a strong season and is hitting .308 with three homers and 21 RBIs.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Houston Astros second baseman Brice Matthews (28) throws to first base for a double play after forcing out Texas Rangers' Wyatt Langford at second base during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

Houston Astros second baseman Brice Matthews (28) throws to first base for a double play after forcing out Texas Rangers' Wyatt Langford at second base during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

Houston Astros second baseman Brice Matthews (28) stands ready during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

Houston Astros second baseman Brice Matthews (28) stands ready during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

Houston Astros second baseman Brice Matthews (28) throws to first base for an out during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

Houston Astros second baseman Brice Matthews (28) throws to first base for an out during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

Houston Astros' Brice Matthews takes his first Major League at bat during the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

Houston Astros' Brice Matthews takes his first Major League at bat during the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

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