Benewende Sankara
Burkina Faso
Bénéwendé Stanislas Sankara is a politician and civil society leader in Burkina Faso.
Professional Information
Professional Areas:
Occupations
Employer:
Cabinet Maitre Benewende S. Sankara
Position:
Attorney at Law
Working primarily in:
Burkina Faso
Description of Work:
Bénéwendé Stanislas Sankara was born in the northern town of Toessin, about 100 kilometers away from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso's capital.
A career lawyer, Me Sankara came to international attention as one of the most vocal advocates for justice following the assassination of journalist Norbert Zongo in 1998.
Two years later, Sankara founded Union pour la Renaissance/Mouvement Sankariste (UNIR/MS), an opposition party that later got him elected to the Burkinabe and the Panafrican parliaments. He resigned both positions in 2005 to run for president, and came second to incumbent Blaise Compaore.
UNIR/MS is now the most important political party of the Sankarist movement, which seeks to restore the legacy of Cpt. Thomas Sankara, a charismatic head of state who was assassinated in 1987.
In January 2007 a number of Sankarist parties coalesced under one umbrella organization, the Union of Sankarist Parties (UPS). UNIR/MS has not joined this new coalition party, which was legalized in March 2008.
Me Sankara has a law practice in Ouagadougou and he is also a member of several civil society organizations.
(Above photo courtesy of Burkina Faso Government)
Biographical Information
Benewende Sankara
(At a Glance)
Date of Birth: Feb/23/
Location:
City: Ouagadougou
Place of Origin: Burkina Faso
