https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-58842427
Thomas Sankara the former president of Burkina Faso was gunned down by multiple soldiers in a coup. His best friend, rose to power shortly after. This led to skepticism throughout the country. Sankara was loved by the citizens of Burkina Faso which is why over 30 years later, the 14 soldiers are going on trial. This was a massive assassination coup involving his own staff, friends, soldiers, and even a doctor who is not facing charges by ruling the death as “Natural causes”.
This is important because the country loved the former president Thomas Sankara. If this trial ends in a verdict that doesnt bring “justice” to their former leader. There will be uprising and possibly a civil war. If a civil war or uprising does break out, the lasting effects could potentially be catastrophic to the country and its economic status. The country has been through its ups and downs. Sankara came in lowering his own salary as well as other public servants salary. He was loved throughout the country by the “working man”. Many of his colleagues were frustrated that he took away alot of the greed out of the government because it came out of their pockets. This led to the assassination.
This relates to International Relations because of the tension in the country. Countries with diplomatic ties to Burkino Faso are worried about the outcome of this trial. The citizens of the country want “justice” for Sankara and there have been rumors about uprisings if the people in power dont hold a fair trial there might be revolts. With revolts in the country the economic status and the diplomatic ties will weaken. Im interested in what the final verdict of the trial is and how the countries citizens will react.