Colonel Saye Zerbo (1932–2013) was a Burkinabè military officer who served as the third President of the Republic of Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) from November 1980 until he was overthrown in a coup in November 1982. His brief, authoritarian rule was a critical link in the rapid sequence of military takeovers that preceded the revolutionary government of Thomas Sankara.
Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Saye Zerbo |
| Born | August 27, 1932, Tougan, French West Africa (now Burkina Faso) |
| Died | September 19, 2013 (aged 81), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso |
| Highest Rank | Colonel |
| Key Titles | President of Upper Volta (1980–1982) |
| Predecessor | General Sangoulé Lamizana |
| Successor | Major Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo |
| Military Background | Served in the French Army (Saint-Cyr graduate); fought in Indochina and Algeria. |
Military Service and Rise to Power
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French Colonial Service: Saye Zerbo attended the prestigious École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr in France and became a paratrooper. He gained combat experience serving in the French Army during the First Indochina War and the Algerian War of Independence.
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Cabinet Position: After Upper Volta’s independence, he transferred to the national army. Under the military-civilian government of President Sangoulé Lamizana, Zerbo served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1974 to 1976. He also held important military posts, including commander of the regiment in the capital and director of military intelligence.
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The 1980 Coup: Faced with overwhelming public dissatisfaction, economic crisis, and prolonged strikes by the powerful trade unions, President Lamizana’s government collapsed. On November 25, 1980, Colonel Saye Zerbo led a successful, bloodless coup d’état. He established the Military Committee of Recovery for National Progress (CMRPN), suspended the 1977 constitution, and banned all political parties.
Short-Lived Rule and Downfall
Zerbo’s regime, intended to restore stability, quickly became another source of contention and conflict.
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Initial Support: The coup was initially supported by the trade unions and some opposition figures who were tired of Lamizana’s inability to govern. Zerbo even appointed young, radical officers, including Thomas Sankara and Blaise Compaoré, to his junta.
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Authoritarian Measures: However, Zerbo quickly showed an authoritarian streak, implementing unpopular measures: he froze civil servant salaries, restricted press freedom, and, critically, suspended the sacred right to strike that the trade unions cherished.
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Fractured Junta: The strong response from the unions, combined with factional infighting, led to resignations from within the CMRPN. Thomas Sankara, then Secretary of State for Information, resigned in April 1982, followed by Compaoré and Henri Zongo. The three were briefly arrested.
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The 1982 Coup: Facing rising opposition from both the radical young officers and the powerful trade union movement, Colonel Zerbo was overthrown on November 7, 1982, in a coup led by conservative and radical military factions, including the clandestine “Communist Officers’ Group.” He was succeeded by Major Dr. Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo.
Later Life and Legacy
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Imprisonment and Trial: Zerbo was imprisoned following the 1982 coup. In 1984, under the revolutionary government of Thomas Sankara, he was tried and sentenced to 15 years in prison for corruption. During his incarceration, Zerbo reportedly converted from Islam to Christianity.
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Release and Pardon: He was released in 1985 and, following Blaise Compaoré’s takeover, his conviction was officially annulled by the Supreme Court in 1997. He lived the remainder of his life as a private citizen.
Saye Zerbo’s brief rule serves as a clear illustration of the military-civilian power struggle and the profound instability that characterized Upper Volta in the early 1980s, directly setting the stage for the revolutionary movement that followed.