Henri Zongo

Who was Henri Zongo?

Henri Zongo was a military officer in the army of Burkina Faso and a key figure in the country's history after decolonisation. He was responsible on 15 October 1987 for the overthrow of the country's government after power became too concentrated with the country's military leaders who included Zongo as well as Jean-Baptiste Boukari Lingani and Blaise Compaoré.

After this overthrow Compaoré took power at the head of a triumvirate. However, in 1989 Zongo was executed after being accused of plotting to overthrow the government of Compaoré. The two had disagreed with economic reform issues.