Thomas Sankara, Burkinabé captain and politician, 5th President of Burkina Faso (died 1987)

Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara was a Burkinabè military officer, Marxist and Pan-Africanist revolutionary who served as the President of Burkina Faso from 1983, following his takeover in a coup, until his assassination in 1987.

The president of Burkina Faso is the head of state of Burkina Faso and as well as the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Burkina Faso. It is the highest office in Burkina Faso and has significant executive power, including appointing the prime minister and other government officials. They also have the power to dissolve parliament and issue decrees.