Major Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo (born 1942) is a Burkinabè military officer and physician who served as the fourth President of the Republic of Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) for a brief, turbulent period from November 1982 to August 1983. He emerged as a compromise leader following a coup and was quickly tasked with managing the growing conflict between conservative and radical military factions, a conflict that ultimately led to the rise of Thomas Sankara.
Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo |
| Born | June 30, 1942, Kaya, French Upper Volta |
| Highest Rank | Major |
| Key Titles | President of Upper Volta (1982–1983) |
| Profession | Medical Doctor (Pediatrician) |
| Predecessor | Colonel Saye Zerbo |
| Successor | Captain Thomas Sankara |
Academic and Military Background
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Physician: Unlike most of his military peers who rose through combat ranks, Ouédraogo was trained as a medical doctor. He specialized in Pediatrics in France and was considered an intellectual, non-political figure prior to the 1982 coup.
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Military Role: He returned to Upper Volta to serve as a military doctor, a position that required him to hold the military rank of Major. His status as a respected professional with no strong political alliances made him an attractive candidate for the various factions seeking to lead the country after the overthrow of Colonel Saye Zerbo.
The Year of Turmoil (1982–1983)
Ouédraogo’s presidency was essentially a short, unsuccessful attempt to mediate between the various political and ideological forces vying for control.
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Ascension (1982): Following the November 1982 coup that deposed Colonel Saye Zerbo, the new junta, the People’s Provisional Salvation Council (CSP), needed a politically neutral figurehead. Ouédraogo was appointed Chairman of the CSP and Head of State.
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Prime Minister Sankara: To appease the powerful, radical-left military faction, Ouédraogo appointed the charismatic Captain Thomas Sankara as his Prime Minister in January 1983.
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Ideological Clash: The partnership was doomed by deep ideological conflict:
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Ouédraogo: Represented the more conservative, pro-French faction of the army, favoring a return to civilian rule and traditional foreign policies.
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Sankara: Represented the radical, anti-imperialist, and Pan-Africanist wing, committed to a popular revolution and a break from French influence.
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Dismissal of Sankara: The tension boiled over during a May 1983 visit by French presidential advisor Guy Penne. On the advice of his conservative allies, Ouédraogo ordered the arrest and dismissal of Prime Minister Sankara and several other radical officers, an event that became known as the “May Coup.”
The Coup of August 1983
Ouédraogo’s attempt to sideline Sankara led directly to the end of his own rule and the start of the Burkinabè Revolution.
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Rebellion: Sankara’s arrest ignited an immediate public and military outcry. Forces loyal to Sankara, notably those led by Captain Blaise Compaoré, mobilized quickly.
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Overthrow: On August 4, 1983, troops loyal to Sankara, with the backing of Libya, launched a successful coup. Ouédraogo was overthrown and imprisoned, marking the end of his short presidency and the official start of the socialist revolution under Thomas Sankara.
After his release, Ouédraogo resumed his medical practice and founded a private clinic in Ouagadougou. He remains a respected figure in the medical field, having stepped away from active politics.