How did Thomas Sankara become Burkina Faso’s head of state in 1983?

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In 1983, the government of Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) was divided between conservative and radical factions. Thomas Sankara, who had previously served as prime minister, was arrested in May 1983 following these internal political struggles.123

On August 4, 1983, a group of military officers led by Sankara’s close friend and colleague, Blaise Compaoré, launched a coup to overthrow the regime of Maj. Jean-Baptiste Ouedraogo. Compaoré mustered support from the commando unit at Po and, with assistance from Ghana and Libya, successfully freed Sankara and seized power. Following the coup, the radicals established the National Revolutionary Council (CNR), with Sankara installed as the head of state.4231