Saye Zerbo
Encyclopedia
Colonel
Saye Zerbo (born 27 August 1932) was a President of Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso
) from 25 November 1980 to 7 November 1982. He led a coup in 1980, but was resisted by trade unions and was overthrown by Maj. Dr.Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo
and the Council of Popular Salvation (CSP).
Zerbo comes from Tougan
in Sourou Province
in the western part of the country. He went to school in Mali
and Saint-Louis
, Senegal
. Then he joined the French military in 1950 and attended the military academy
Saint-Cyr
. As a paratrooper
, Zerbo took part in both the First Indochina War
as well as the Algerian War of Independence
. After the Upper Volta's independence from France
in 1960, he switched into that country's army in 1961.
In the military government
of Sangoulé Lamizana
, who ruled Upper Volta from 1966, Saye Zerbo was foreign minister
from 1974 to 1976. He also held the positions of commander of the regiment in the capital Ouagadougou
and director of the military intelligence agency
.
On 25 November 1980, Zerbo staged a coup against President Lamizana, who had been re-elected democratically in 1978, and took on the positions of head of state
and government
. The constitution, which had been introduced in 1977, was suspended and the Military Committee of Recovery for National Progress (Comité Militaire de Redressement pour le Progrès National; CMPRN) established. The trade unions in the country
opposed his seizure of power, although they had supported Zerbo for a long time, and on 7 November 1982, Saye Zerbo was deposed in another coup d'état. He was succeeded by Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo
as the head of the Council of Popular Salvation (Conseil du Salut du Peuple; CSP).
After being deposed, Zerbo was also incarcerated. On 4 August 1983, Ouédraogo was deposed by Thomas Sankara
. In May 1984, Zerbo and Lamizana were put on trial for various crimes. Zerbo was indicted to 15 years in prison. During his imprisonment, Zerbo converted from Islam
to Christianity
. He was released from jail in August 1985. After Blaise Compaoré
had deposed Sankara he sought Zerbo's advice. His conviction from 1984 was annulled on 18 February 1997 by the supreme court of Burkina Faso.
Zerbo's third daughter Araba Kadidiatou Zerbo is married to the former Prime Minister of Burkina Faso Paramanga Ernest Yonli
.
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Saye Zerbo (born 27 August 1932) was a President of Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
) from 25 November 1980 to 7 November 1982. He led a coup in 1980, but was resisted by trade unions and was overthrown by Maj. Dr.Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo
Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo
Major Dr. Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo was President of Upper Volta from 8 November 1982 to 4 August 1983, when he was overthrown in a coup d’état which brought Thomas Sankara into power....
and the Council of Popular Salvation (CSP).
Zerbo comes from Tougan
Tougan
Tougan is a town located in the province of Sourou in Burkina Faso. It is the capital of Sourou Province....
in Sourou Province
Sourou Province
Sourou is one of the 45 provinces of Burkina Faso, located in its Hauts-Bassins Region.Its capital is Tougan.Sourou is divided into 8 departments:*Di*Gomboro*Kassoum*Kiembara*Lanfiera*Lankoue*Toeni*TouganSee also:*Regions of Burkina Faso...
in the western part of the country. He went to school in Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
and Saint-Louis
Saint-Louis, Senegal
Saint-Louis, or Ndar as it is called in Wolof, is the capital of Senegal's Saint-Louis Region. Located in the northwest of Senegal, near the mouth of the Senegal River, and 320 km north of Senegal's capital city Dakar, it has a population officially estimated at 176,000 in 2005. Saint-Louis...
, Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
. Then he joined the French military in 1950 and attended the military academy
Military academy
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the army, the navy, air force or coast guard, which normally provides education in a service environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.Three...
Saint-Cyr
École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr
The École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr is the foremost French military academy. Its official name is . It is often referred to as Saint-Cyr . Its motto is "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre": literally "They study to vanquish" or "Training for victory"...
. As a paratrooper
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
, Zerbo took part in both the First Indochina War
First Indochina War
The First Indochina War was fought in French Indochina from December 19, 1946, until August 1, 1954, between the French Union's French Far East...
as well as the Algerian War of Independence
Algerian War of Independence
The Algerian War was a conflict between France and Algerian independence movements from 1954 to 1962, which led to Algeria's gaining its independence from France...
. After the Upper Volta's independence from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1960, he switched into that country's army in 1961.
In the military government
Military dictatorship
A military dictatorship is a form of government where in the political power resides with the military. It is similar but not identical to a stratocracy, a state ruled directly by the military....
of Sangoulé Lamizana
Sangoulé Lamizana
Major General Aboubakar Sangoulé Lamizana was the second president of Upper Volta , in power from January 3, 1966 to November 25, 1980...
, who ruled Upper Volta from 1966, Saye Zerbo was foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
from 1974 to 1976. He also held the positions of commander of the regiment in the capital Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural and economic center of the nation. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of 1,475,223 . The city's name is often shortened to Ouaga. The inhabitants are called ouagalais...
and director of the military intelligence agency
Intelligence agency
An intelligence agency is a governmental agency that is devoted to information gathering for purposes of national security and defence. Means of information gathering may include espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public...
.
On 25 November 1980, Zerbo staged a coup against President Lamizana, who had been re-elected democratically in 1978, and took on the positions of head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
and government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
. The constitution, which had been introduced in 1977, was suspended and the Military Committee of Recovery for National Progress (Comité Militaire de Redressement pour le Progrès National; CMPRN) established. The trade unions in the country
Trade unions in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is a landlocked African country located in the middle of West Africa. It has a population of 13.9 million people.Workers have the right to organise trade unions, engage in collective bargaining, and strike for better pay and working conditions. Unions have held an important role in...
opposed his seizure of power, although they had supported Zerbo for a long time, and on 7 November 1982, Saye Zerbo was deposed in another coup d'état. He was succeeded by Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo
Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo
Major Dr. Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo was President of Upper Volta from 8 November 1982 to 4 August 1983, when he was overthrown in a coup d’état which brought Thomas Sankara into power....
as the head of the Council of Popular Salvation (Conseil du Salut du Peuple; CSP).
After being deposed, Zerbo was also incarcerated. On 4 August 1983, Ouédraogo was deposed by Thomas Sankara
Thomas Sankara
Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara was a Burkinabé military captain, Marxist revolutionary, Pan-Africanist theorist, and President of Burkina Faso from 1983 to 1987...
. In May 1984, Zerbo and Lamizana were put on trial for various crimes. Zerbo was indicted to 15 years in prison. During his imprisonment, Zerbo converted from Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. He was released from jail in August 1985. After Blaise Compaoré
Blaise Compaoré
Blaise Compaoré has been the President of Burkina Faso since 1987 following a coup d'état that ousted then-President Thomas Sankara. In 2011, a mutiny by soldiers over unpaid housing allowances forced him to flee the capital for his hometown...
had deposed Sankara he sought Zerbo's advice. His conviction from 1984 was annulled on 18 February 1997 by the supreme court of Burkina Faso.
Zerbo's third daughter Araba Kadidiatou Zerbo is married to the former Prime Minister of Burkina Faso Paramanga Ernest Yonli
Paramanga Ernest Yonli
Paramanga Ernest Yonli, also known as Ernest Paramanga Yonli , is a Burkinabé politician and diplomat who was the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso from November 7, 2000 to June 11, 2007. Since January 2008, Yonli has been the Ambassador of Burkina Faso to the United States...
.