Aboubakar Sangoulé Lamizana (1916–2005) was a military officer from Upper Volta (renamed Burkina Faso in 1984) who served as the nation’s second President from 1966 to 1980. His 14-year rule was a turbulent period of political instability, marked by cycles of military intervention, short-lived attempts at democratic governance, and economic crises stemming from severe drought.
Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Aboubakar Sangoulé Lamizana |
| Born | January 31, 1916, Dianra, French Upper Volta |
| Died | May 26, 2005 (aged 89), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso |
| Highest Rank | General (Seized power as Lt. Colonel) |
| Key Titles | President of Upper Volta (1966–1980) |
| Predecessor | Maurice Yaméogo |
| Successor | Saye Zerbo |
| Military Background | Served in the French Army (Tirailleurs Sénégalais) in Indochina and Algeria. |
French Military Service and The 1966 Coup
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Colonial Service: Lamizana was incorporated into the French Army in 1936 as a tirailleur sénégalais (Senegalese rifleman), despite not being Senegalese. He rose through the ranks, fighting for France in the First Indochina War and the Algerian War.
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Army Chief of Staff: Following Upper Volta’s independence in 1960, he was tasked with creating the national army and was named its Chief of Staff in 1961.
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Seizure of Power (1966): On January 3, 1966, after massive popular demonstrations and a general strike forced the resignation of the country’s first president, Maurice Yaméogo (whose rule was marked by austerity and extravagance), the army intervened. Lieutenant-Colonel Lamizana took control in a bloodless coup, establishing a provisional military government and suspending the constitution.
Cycles of Military and Civilian Rule
Lamizana presided over a unique cycle in African post-colonial politics, characterized by alternating between military dictatorship and constitutional governance.
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First Transition (1970): Lamizana promised a transition to civilian rule within four years. In 1970, a new constitution was approved, and legislative elections were held, marking the beginning of the Second Republic. However, the constitution included a provision that the military’s most senior officer—i.e., Lamizana (promoted to General in 1967)—would remain President for the four-year transition period.
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The Sahel Drought and Second Coup (1974): The early 1970s were devastatingly impacted by the severe Sahel drought, leading to economic crisis and famine. Factionalism and disputes between the civilian Prime Minister and the National Assembly led to government paralysis. In response, Lamizana dissolved the Assembly and Government in February 1974, re-establishing a direct military regime.
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Return to Democracy and 1978 Election: Under pressure from trade unions and other civilian forces, Lamizana oversaw the adoption of a new constitution in 1977, establishing the Third Republic. He ran in the subsequent 1978 presidential election and was re-elected in a runoff, in what is often cited as one of the most genuinely democratic elections held in West Africa at the time.
Downfall and Final Years
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Economic Woes and Strikes: Despite the democratic mandate, the Third Republic struggled against the same forces: persistent economic difficulties and powerful trade unions. A major two-month general strike led by teachers and civil servants paralyzed the country in late 1980.
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The 1980 Coup: On November 25, 1980, General Lamizana was overthrown in a bloodless coup led by Colonel Saye Zerbo, his former Foreign Minister.
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Retirement and Exoneration: Lamizana was detained for a period. In 1984, under the revolutionary government of Thomas Sankara, he was tried by a People’s Revolutionary Tribunal on charges of misappropriating government funds. He was acquitted after supportive testimony was heard, and he lived out his remaining years quietly.
Sangoulé Lamizana’s time in power illustrates the fragility of democracy in the Sahel, as he repeatedly tried and failed to anchor civilian rule amidst military impatience and severe national crises.