Blaise Compaoré

Blaise Compaoré From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Blaise Compaoré (born February 3, 1951) is a Burkinabé politician who served as President of Burkina Faso from 1987 to 2014. He first came to power in a military coup. He was re-elected in 1991, 1998, 2005, and 2010. In 2014, he was ousted by a popular uprising after attempting to change the constitution to allow himself to run for a sixth term.

Early life and education Blaise Compaoré was born on February 3, 1951, in Ziniaré, Burkina Faso. He is a member of the Mossi ethnic group, the largest ethnic group in Burkina Faso. He received his secondary education at the Lycée Philippe Zinda Kaboré in Ouagadougou and then studied at the University of Ouagadougou.

Military career Compaoré began his military career in 1972, when he joined the military academy in Kadiogo. He graduated in 1974 and was commissioned as an officer. He served in the military for several years, rising to the rank of captain.

Political career In 1983, Compaoré was appointed Minister of State for National Defense under President Thomas Sankara. In 1987, he led a military coup that overthrew Sankara and became President of Burkina Faso. He was re-elected in 1991, 1998, 2005, and 2010.

During his time in office, Compaoré oversaw a period of economic growth and stability in Burkina Faso. He also played a key role in regional diplomacy, mediating conflicts in neighboring countries. However, he was also accused of corruption and human rights abuses.

In 2014, Compaoré attempted to change the constitution to allow himself to run for a sixth term. This led to widespread protests and a popular uprising. Compaoré was forced to flee the country and went into exile in Ivory Coast.

Current activities Compaoré currently lives in exile in Ivory Coast. He has been convicted in absentia of complicity in the assassination of Thomas Sankara and sentenced to life in prison. He has also been accused of involvement in other human rights abuses.

Legacy Blaise Compaoré is a controversial figure whose legacy is still being debated. He is credited with bringing stability and economic growth to Burkina Faso, but he is also accused of corruption and human rights abuses. His attempts to change the constitution in 2014 led to a popular uprising that forced him to flee the country.