Henri Zongo

Henri Zongo (died 19 September 1989) was a Burkinabé politician and military officer.[1] He served as a key figure in the country's history after decolonisation: Zongo was involved in two successful coup d'états and accused of being the conspirator of a third that led to his execution.

Henri Zongo
Minister of Economic Promotion
In office
4 August 1983 – 19 September 1989
PresidentThomas Sankara
Blaise Compaoré
Succeeded byThomas Sanon
Sports Minister of Upper Volta
PresidentThomas Sankara
Personal details
Died(1989-09-19)19 September 1989
Burkina Faso
Cause of deathExecution by firing squad
Military service
Allegiance Burkina Faso
RankCaptain

Zongo, Thomas Sankara, Jean-Baptiste Boukary Lingani and Blaise Compaoré formed the inner core of a military group that launched the 1983 coup d'état that brought Sankara to power as president.[2] Zongo was appointed as the Minister of Economic Promotion on 4 August 1983:[3] a role he served until his death.[4] Zongo also served as the Sports Minister of Upper Volta; he called for an African boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics.[5]

Zongo, Lingani and Compaoré then led the 1987 coup d'état that saw the overthrow of Sankara. After this overthrow, Compaoré took power at the head of a triumvirate of which Zongo and Lingani were members. Zongo and Lingani disagreed with Compaoré on economic reform issues and were accused of an attempt to overthrow the government. Zongo, Lingani and two unnamed military plotters were arrested and executed in 1989.[1][6]

References
  1. Guiguemde, Pierre H. (30 August 2019). "Burkina Faso :: Independence - Britannica Online Encyclopedia". Britannica. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  2. "Burkina Faso's Leader Ousted by Deputy". Los Angeles Times. 16 October 1987. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  3. Prairie, Michel (2019). Thomas Sankara Speaks (Ninth ed.). Canada: Pathfinder Press. p. 471. ISBN 978-0-87348-986-7.
  4. "Burkina Faso coup leaders killed". The Gazette. 20 September 1989. p. 40. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  5. "Olympics Senior African sports official calls for boycott". Clarion-Ledger. 3 July 1984. p. 26. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  6. "Four Coup Plotters Executed in Burkina Faso". Associated Press. 20 September 1989. Retrieved 8 September 2020.


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