The Transitional Legislative Assembly of Burkina Faso unanimously approved a new national motto, which was used under the era of Captain Thomas Sankara: “Homeland or death, we will win.”
The decision was made by all 71 deputies in parliament, replacing the previous motto, “Unity – Progress – Justice.”
In a press release issued in late August 2024, the government noted that despite changes in leadership since 1997, the motto continues to resonate with the public as a symbol of patriotism and the willingness to make sacrifices for the nation.
The government said the motto is frequently used in official speeches and daily life in Burkina Faso.
They believe adopting this motto will reinforce patriotic sentiments and align constitutional provisions with the people’s will.
Sankara, the former president of Burkina Faso, who came to power in a coup d’état on August 4, 1983, was a pan-Africanist and anti-colonial leader known for his revolutionary approach to speaking out against colonialism and the impact of Western financial institutions.
He undertook several reforms in Burkina Faso, including changing the country’s name from Upper Volta to Burkina Faso, meaning “Homeland of Upright Men” in the national language of Mooré and Dioula, and the country’s motto.
In 1997, the motto established by Sankara was changed to “Unity – Progress – Justice” under Blaise Compaoré, who overthrew him on October 15, 1987, in a coup d’état in which Sankara was assassinated.
On October 15, 2024, the Burkina Faso government led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, alongside the citizens, commemorated the 37th Anniversary of Sankara’s death, saying:
On this day marking the 37th anniversary of this tragic event, I pay a vibrant tribute to this great visionary who has marked, and continues to mark indelibly, the history of our Nation through his integrity, his patriotism and his unwavering commitment to a dignified, free and sovereign Burkina Faso, the statement reads partly.
His fight and his vision remain a benchmark that guides our actions, and nourishes our commitment and our determination for the reconquest of the national territory and the construction of a new Burkina of peace, security, prosperity and progress for all Burkinabè.
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