Burkina Faso minister unveils Sankara statue in Rome
A two-meter steel sculpture of Thomas Sankara was inaugurated in a park named after him in Rome, Italy.
Burkina Faso's Minister of Culture, Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo, inaugurated a two-meter steel sculpture of Captain Thomas Sankara on Saturday, October 24, 2026. The artwork, located in the Thomas Sankara park in Rome's 3rd arrondissement, was created by artist Hamed Sékou Ouattara and gifted by Madi Sakandé. This sculpture symbolizes the friendship between the Burkinabè and Italian peoples.
The ceremony, attended by Burkina Faso's ambassadors to Rome and the Vatican, diplomatic representatives from Mali and Niger, and members of the Burkinabè diaspora, took place in the park officially named on September 17, 2025. Rome's 3rd arrondissement president, Paolo Emilio Marchionne, praised the initiative for perpetuating Sankara's ideals, while Minister Ouédraogo highlighted the universal reach of his legacy.
Minister Ouédraogo also launched the international fundraising campaign 'A brick for Sankara' during the event, aimed at supporting the construction of a Thomas Sankara memorial. The park itself is intended as a symbol of fraternity, justice, and dialogue between peoples.
Why it mattersBurkina Faso's culture minister inaugurated a statue and launched a fundraising campaign for a memorial in Rome, Italy.