Burkina Faso Ouagadougou- The military rulers of Burkina Faso have become a man once known as the "Che Guevara of Africa" ​​to assemble a country that strives to defeat extremists and break away from former Western allies.

Over the weekend, hundreds of young people gathered in the capital Ouagadougou to open a mausoleum for legendary leader Thomas Sankara.

"I am the driving force of the revolution!" a young man shouted happily, sitting on the steering wheel of the jeep used by Sankara during her presidency decades ago.

A charismatic Marxist leader in Sankara, who took office with his former Ally Blaise Compaore in 1983 at the age of 33, led a leftist coup that allowed a moderate military faction to overthrow a medium military faction. But in 1987, Compaore opened up his former friend in a coup that killed Sankara in the capital and later became the president himself.

Nearly forty years after his death, Sankara celebrates in Brkina Faso, a country with 23 million people once known for their bustling art world and vibrant intellectual life, including Sankara’s anti-imperialist and pan-intangible heritage.

"When I walked into the tomb, I felt revolutionary," said Timott, 22.

The mausoleum of Sankara was designed by architect Francis Kéré of Pritzker Architecture Awards and has been a project of current military leader Captain Ibrahim Traore.

Traore has presented itself as the new Sankara since taking power in the 2022 coup. After the Revolutionary Leader, he named one of the main streets, elevated him to the national hero, and restored revolutionary slogans like "Motherland or Death" and we will win! In most of his speeches.

The mission of the Mausoleum is to "keep the flames of revolution and remind Captain Thomas Sankara of the struggle to break the shackles of slavery and imperialist rule."

Despite commitments to fight the security crisis that prompted them to coup, Burkina Faso's military leaders are still struggling to deal with the worsening crisis. According to conservative estimates, more than 60% of the country's people are now out of government control, more than 2 million people have lost their homes, and nearly 6.5 million need humanitarian assistance to survive.

Human rights groups say military leadership has installed de facto censorship that undermines critics, while many have been killed by jihadist groups or government forces.

Life elsewhere in the country reflects another reality as people flock to Ouagadougou to celebrate Sankara.

“We can go out in the city center, but be careful,” a student in Dori, the capital of the northern region, told Dori, concerned about the restrictions on freedom of speech and movement.

Students spoke on anonymously because they were worried about being arrested.

Security issues have permeated every aspect of life outside of Ouagadougou. Even more and more places are going to traders, the price of beer is soaring.

"There are two Burkina Fasosians." A teacher from the East said without anonymity due to safety reasons. “One street is in a deserted place at night, and the other is life enjoying the cool evening air.”