On Government proposal, the Transitional Parliament approved a constitutional amendment on Wednesday, October 30, restoring the country’s old motto. And enabling entry into a Confederation or Federation with only parliamentary approval.
The motto “Unity – Progress – Justice,” adopted in 1997 under former President Blaise Compaoré, will now be replaced by “Fatherland or Death, We Shall Overcome”, a rallying cry associated with Thomas Sankara, which will once again be enshrined in Burkina Faso’s Constitution.
All 71 deputies present unanimously passed the draft, which now awaits Constitutional Council review and subsequent promulgation by President Ibrahim Traoré. Justice Minister Edasso Rodrique Bayala explained the return to this motto as a psychological move to inspire collective resilience and awareness among Burkinabe citizens, noting that the phrase had already resurfaced in official discourse.
The amendment also grants the government authority to join a confederation, federation, or African state union without a referendum in cases of “emergency or force majeure” or when circumstances prevent organizing one. Bayala reassured that public consultation via referendum remains the standard, with parliamentary approval acting as a contingency.