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| Thomas Sankara was one of Africa's most idealised leaders |
By Taraba Baraka.
The government of Burkina Faso has ordered the exhumation of the remains of Thomas Sankara, the former president who was killed in a 1987 coup.
The move means the remains can be formally identified - a
long-standing demand of Mr Sankara's supporters, who wanted proof that
the remains were his.
Mr Sankara - seen as Africa's Che Guevara - was hastily buried in a coup led by his successor, Blaise Compaore.
Mr Compaore quit the presidency amid massive street protests last October.
While he was in office, a Burkina Faso court blocked a request by Mr Sankara's family for his remains to be exhumed.
Mr Compaore has always denied being involved in the
ex-leader's killing, insisting that the "facts are known" and he has
"nothing to hide".
