Koudougou: Thirty-eight years to the day after the tragic massacre of soldiers from the Airborne Intervention Battalion (BIA) of Koudougou, loyal to Thomas Sankara, the memory of these men was honored this Monday, October 27, 2025. On the occasion of this 38th anniversary, the call for recognition and justice for these “martyrs” of Burkinabe history is more vibrant than ever.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the commemorative event, now an annual occurrence, is supported in particular by the Rally for the Fatherland, Development and Freedom (RPDL). The national president of the RPDL, Wilfried Yameogo, reaffirmed the need to perpetuate the memory of these soldiers, who fell after the assassination of President Thomas Sankara on October 15, 1987. The BIA, then commanded by Boukary Kabore known as the Lion, had refused to accept the coup, which led to the encirclement of the city of Koudougou and the execution of its members, despite the order of their leader not to retaliate and to lay down their arms.

The memory of the events of October 27, 1987, remains painful for the people of Koudougou. Witnesses from that time recall a traumatic morning when hundreds of soldiers surrounded the city. While Boukary Kabore managed to flee the country into exile, his men were executed and thrown into a mass grave on the road to Toega, on the northern outskirts of Koudougou. The most shocking thing, 38 years later, is that neither the official list of executed soldiers nor their exact number has ever been made public. Despite the end of hostilities with the surrender of the BIA troops, they were victims of violence, forever marking the country’s history. The presence of the military camp in the city center had raised fears of a massacre among the population, who fled en masse. Testimonies highlight that the lack of response from BIA soldiers probably prevented an even greater disaster for Koudougou.

The RPDL, which has been leading this memorial effort since the disappearance of Boukary Kabore in 2023, works every year to clean up the execution sites and pay tribute to the victims. This year, Wilfried Yameogo expressed his gratitude to the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traore, for the initial steps towards rehabilitation, including the revival of the BIA, a long-standing wish. The RPDL urges the Head of Government to “review their case”, to get in touch with the families of the victims to “share this pain and now try to heal the wound”. The call is made for next year’s commemoration to benefit from “more people, more visibility” and for the authorities and families of the martyrs to be able to participate actively.

In short, 38 years after their sacrifice for their attachment to Thomas Sankara and revolutionary ideals, the “Martyrs” of Koudougou are still waiting to be brought out of the oblivion of history and to receive the recognition and dignity that the nation owes them.