Recaps

Sankara learned that the National Liberation Alliance had brought in many French mercenaries and warned that France might widen the conflict into a nationwide civil war. He ordered Nijia and Bugani secured, then received agriculture documents from Minister Ajima Ameli and postponed their review until the next day.

• Katelai told Sankara that French mercenaries had helped the National Liberation Alliance recover and defeat government troops after the police held Nijia for twenty-eight hours.
• Sankara warned Katelai that France was preparing to involve other anti-government groups and said holding Nijia and Bugani was crucial.
• Katelai agreed to reinforce Bugani with nearby local forces and transfer the 4th Light Armored Brigade and the 5th Infantry Brigade from Nijia.
• Sankara told Katelai to promise the Bugani reinforcements a billion after the war instead of paying them upfront, and Katelai agreed.
• Minister Ajima Ameli brought Sankara the requested agricultural documents, and Sankara arranged to review them and speak with her the next day.

Sankara discovered that Burkina produced far too little grain because landlords devoted most of its farmland to cotton for profit, leaving millions without enough to eat. Enraged, he decided to summon officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of National Defense for a meeting that morning.

• Sankara reviewed national figures showing that Burkina had 48 million mu of farmland but produced only 1.2 million tonnes of staple grains.
• He calculated that the country’s grain supply fell far short of what its population needed.
• Sankara found that more than 40 million mu of farmland was used to grow cotton for French buyers and profit-seeking landlords.
• He read that landlords controlled nearly 80 percent of the land and disregarded the hunger caused by the shortage of grain.
• After finishing the documents at 3:15 a.m., Sankara resolved to summon the agriculture and national defense officials for a meeting.

Sankara called Ministry of Agriculture officials to a tense meeting and questioned them about Burkina’s farmland and grain supply. After they revealed that grain production fell short of the country’s needs, he left them anticipating a confrontation over land used for cotton, while Kroko waited outside with a list of attendees.

• Ministry of Agriculture and National Defense officials arrived to find Sankara waiting, visibly angry and exhausted.
• Sankara asked how much arable land Burkina had and how much staple grain its population needed, and few officials could answer.
• Ameli calculated that the country needed at least two million tonnes of grain, while officials said last year’s production was 1.2 million tonnes.
• Ministry of Agriculture officials realized that increasing grain production would threaten landlords’ interests, and some privately considered warning tribal leaders or opposing Sankara.
• Sankara noticed that some officials’ loyalty scores had fallen, while Kroko waited outside with the attendees’ names and a red-ink fountain pen.

Sankara scolded officials over Burkina’s food crisis, accepted responsibility for the hunger, and proposed nationalizing all arable land and distributing it to farmers. His proposal stunned the conference hall, and a middle-aged official voiced enthusiastic support before Sankara could respond.

• Sankara confronted Agriculture Ministry officials over their ignorance of grain needs and arable land while millions went hungry.
• Sankara accepted primary responsibility for the food crisis, and his self-criticism increased the loyalty of some officials, including Ameli.
• Sankara proposed nationalizing all arable land and distributing it among farmers to expand grain production.
• Ameli questioned whether the proposal suited a country still at war, while a middle-aged official interrupted to support Sankara’s idea.

Sankara recognized that officials loudly claiming to support his land reform had low loyalty, while some opponents were genuinely loyal. He reconsidered his initial proposal because the country was at war and began outlining a more cautious approach, but the chapter ended before he revealed it.

• Sankara noticed that Mitchell Roberts's loyalty had plunged after Sankara proposed bringing farmland under state ownership and distributing it to farmers.
• Roberts interrupted Ameli, accused her of siding with landlords, and rallied officials to declare support for Sankara's proposal.
• Other officials warned that forcibly redistributing land could cause severe turmoil, and Sankara observed that many vocal supporters had low loyalty while many objectors had high loyalty.
• Sankara thanked those who genuinely supported him, while disloyal officials privately assumed they had fooled him.
• Sankara explained that he had reconsidered his initial plan because the country was at war and some landlords were enlightened, then began to introduce his final idea.

Sankara presented his phased plan to address Burkina’s food shortage through land purchases and redistribution, crop incentives, fertilizer imports, and postwar land reform. After officials debated improvements and exposed loopholes, the meeting ended with a more practical agricultural reform plan for the Republic of Burkina.

• Sankara proposed buying and redistributing land during the war, encouraging staple crops, importing fertilizer, and carrying out wider land reform after the war.
• Ameli supported Sankara’s proposal and spent five minutes identifying ways to refine it.
• Officials, including Ministry of National Defense officers, offered criticisms, safeguards, and additions to the plan.
• Officials secretly aligned with landlord interests also spoke up to win Sankara’s trust and preserve opportunities to sabotage the proposal.
• Sankara praised the officials’ contributions, and the meeting ended at 2:13 p.m. with a revised agricultural reform plan.

Sankara ordered Kroko to arrest and interrogate officials he deemed disloyal, while Roberts secretly plotted to sabotage the agricultural reforms and overthrow Sankara. The chapter ended with the National Security Committee arresting Roberts and Buer for treason.

• Sankara marked names on a document and ordered Kroko to arrest and interrogate the circled officials, sending them to trial if they had no further value.
• Roberts cursed Sankara and the proposed agricultural reforms, then plotted to use his influence to undermine them and drive Sankara from office.
• Aibuer visited Roberts, who admitted he had feared the National Security Committee was coming to arrest him.
• National Security Committee officers entered Roberts's office and arrested Mitchell Roberts and Mitchell Buer for treason under Supreme Court warrants.

French spokesperson Marie denied France’s involvement in the Republic of Burkina’s internal conflict while blaming its president for the unrest. In Nijia, commanders of four brigades realized the Ministry of National Defense had positioned its troops to prevent them from retreating, and they feared being punished if they disobeyed orders.

• A Paris Daily reporter asked Marie to respond to the Republic of Burkina president’s accusation that France supported reactionary forces and domestic terrorism.
• Marie said France respected other countries’ sovereignty and urged the Republic of Burkina president to examine his own failures and treatment of the people.
• At Aksang Brigade headquarters, Full Beard and the other commanders complained about their casualties and the Ministry of National Defense’s failure to support their fight against the National Liberation Alliance.
• Bal suggested withdrawing from Nijia and giving up the promised billion, but the Drago Brigade commander warned that the ministry might not let them leave.
• Full Beard explained that the ministry’s four brigades had surrounded their forces, and the Ailidun Brigade commander said those troops were there to enforce battle discipline.

Claude and the other brigade commanders considered retreating after two Ministry of National Defense brigades moved south, but a massive air raid shattered their plans. Sankara learned that Katelai had approved the Soviet instructors’ risky combat flight and let him off with a warning.

• Bal argued that his brigades could defeat the mostly recruit forces, but Claude and the other commanders pointed out the Ministry of National Defense’s superior discipline, armor, artillery, and air force.
• An officer reported that the Ministry of National Defense’s 4th Light Armored Brigade and 5th Infantry Brigade had been transferred to Bugani, leading Bal to urge the commanders to retreat.
• Claude began to consider Bal’s proposal when more than a hundred fighters and bombers appeared overhead and bombed the area.
• Bal realized the planes were likely targeting the brigades before they could retreat, and Claude and the other commanders fell silent.
• Katelai told Sankara that he had approved Soviet instructors taking trainees into combat, and Sankara warned him to discuss such risky plans first next time.

Finance Minister Compaoré warned Sankara that the government’s ten-billion-ruble Soviet loan would soon run out, but Sankara revealed that the Republic of Burkina had enormous gold reserves. Compaoré collapsed after Sankara confirmed the country had 1.5 million tonnes of gold ore.

• Compaoré delivered the government finance documents to Sankara and warned that spending on weapons, grain, and industrial equipment could exhaust the Soviet loan before the investments brought returns.
• Sankara reassured Compaoré by revealing that the country had 1.5 million tonnes of confirmed gold ore, along with other resources still being explored.
• Compaoré excitedly asked Sankara to confirm the amount, and Sankara affirmed that it was 1.5 million tonnes.
• Compaoré swayed and collapsed to the floor, alarming Sankara.

Sankara and Compaoré discussed the Republic of Burkina’s gold reserves and their potential to solve the country’s fiscal crisis. Compaoré learned the remaining 1.2 million tonnes of ore had a high gold content, while Sankara revealed he had a plan to keep France from discovering the mining operation soon.

• After Compaoré recovered from an embarrassing incident, Sankara assured him it would remain private, and they sat down to eat.
• Compaoré asked whether the gold estimate included the 300,000 tonnes controlled by France, and Sankara confirmed it did but said Burkina could not yet risk challenging France directly.
• Sankara told Compaoré the remaining 1.2 million tonnes had gold content comparable to the French mines, leaving Compaoré overwhelmed by the news.
• After lunch, Compaoré calculated that mining the ore could bring in 540 billion North African francs in annual revenue, but warned France might seize the mines.
• Sankara said he had a way to keep France from discovering the reserves soon, using the system’s data panel to monitor the loyalty of everyone involved in mining and selling the gold.

In Nayafaso Village, Kanel whipped starving serfs for warming themselves with fallen branches while claiming to be kindhearted. He then complained to Gabriel about Sankara’s refusal to let landlords export cotton to France and his decision to buy it at a lower price, as the men prepared to meet with Kanel.

• Serfs huddled around a fire and whispered about factory jobs and the danger of escaping their landlord.
• Kanel caught them burning fallen branches, whipped them, and left the fire burning because he did not want his laborers to freeze.
• Gabriel teased Kanel for sparing the serfs, and Kanel insisted he was kindhearted.
• Kanel angrily complained that Sankara had failed to receive him personally and would not let him export cotton to France.
• Gabriel urged Kanel to calm down and reminded him that others were waiting inside to discuss their business.

Kanel and the other landlords grew furious over the government’s cotton policy and agreed to fight back against Sankara. Gabriel later weighed whether to keep growing cotton or switch to grain, depending on whether Kanel could force Sankara to withdraw the policy.

• Gabriel arrived at Kanel’s house and praised his expensive American air conditioner while the two men mocked Sankara.
• Kanel learned that Sankara and his ministers had refused to meet the landlords, and the group complained about the cotton purchase price.
• Gabriel inflamed Kanel’s anger by emphasizing that the new price would cost him 2.7 billion North African francs each year.
• Kanel agreed with the other landlords that they had to fight back against Sankara’s cotton policy.
• At Nayafaso Village, Gabriel told his servant he would keep growing cotton if Kanel succeeded, but otherwise switch to grain and consider selling land to the government.

The National Security Committee ordered officers to investigate landowners led by Gabriel after they met with Kanel, a powerful opponent of Sankara’s agricultural reforms. The story then shifted to December 15, when William told his mother that Aaron had secretly enlisted, before following her to a bustling state-owned garment factory.

• A major told six officers that Gabriel and other landowners had visited Kanel, and ordered them to uncover and thwart their plans within a day.
• William told his mother that Aaron had secretly joined the army, and she worried about the dangers of the fighting in Nijia.
• William left for school, while his parents discussed Aaron’s enlistment and his mother worried about the war.
• William’s mother rode her bicycle to work at the Dugagu State-Owned Garment Manufacturing Co., Ltd., passing crowds of workers, vendors, and cotton sellers gathered at the factory gates.

At a Ministry of Industrial Development and Trade meeting, Sankara heard about factory construction and questioned how a garment factory had become profitable despite its high prices. He left the meeting after Meyev reported that security forces had foiled a suspected terrorist attack near a factory in Dugagu.

• Workers at a factory gate panicked and ran inside after someone announced that police and the army had arrived nearby.
• An official reported that the ministry had invested in thirty-seven factories and that Dugagu Garment Manufacturing Limited Company had quickly become profitable by selling clothes directly to consumers.
• Minister Aurore explained that local landlords and criminal forces threatened retailers and wholesalers who bypassed them, while the government-owned factory had protection from local authorities.
• Meyev told Sankara that the National Security Committee and the Ministry of Public Security had prevented a suspected terrorist attack near a factory in Dugagu, leaving four people with minor injuries.
• Sankara ended his participation in the meeting and went to hear Chairman Kroko's report.

Sankara reprimanded Kroko for risking civilians while the National Security Committee allowed the landlords’ planned attacks to nearly begin, then praised the operation’s results. He ordered the arrest of every landlord led by Kanel and sent two infantry brigades to help enforce it.

• Kroko reported that the National Security Committee and the Ministry of Public Security had stopped a terrorist plot organized by landlords led by Kanel.
• Sankara criticized Kroko for waiting until the attacks were imminent and stressed that protecting civilians had to come first.
• Sankara acknowledged the operation’s success and said it had advanced agricultural reform by several months.
• Sankara ordered the arrest of all landlords led by Kanel, whether or not they had participated in the attacks.
• Sankara sent the 3rd Infantry Brigade and the 6th Infantry Brigade to assist, and authorized deadly force if the landlords resisted.

Kanel boasted that his armed men could defeat Sankara’s forces, then ordered his guards to resist when Sankara’s troops arrived to take him in. Explosions and gunfire erupted outside before Kanel could act, leaving him furious and ready to fight.

• Kanel showed off his expensive American air conditioner while his guests flattered him and raised concerns about their arrested men and Sankara’s response.
• Kanel dismissed their fears, claiming his gunmen outnumbered Sankara’s inexperienced forces and threatening to replace him as president.
• A messenger reported that police and at least a thousand soldiers had surrounded the village and demanded Kanel surrender within five minutes.
• Kanel ordered his guards to arm themselves and assemble at the village entrance.
• Explosions, gunfire, and screams broke out outside, and Kanel vowed to show Sankara whose guns were stronger.

After the landlords and Kanel were captured, a major confronted them over their rebellion and Kanel’s insults against Sankara. The prisoners were taken away in military vehicles, while police and officials stayed behind to handle the aftermath.

• A major approached the freezing landlords, who blamed Kanel for the resistance and begged for warm clothes.
• The major asked Kanel whether he had learned whose gun was stronger, and the landlords testified that Kanel had insulted Sankara.
• Enraged by Kanel’s remarks, the major punched him and said the president had not required the army to take him alive.
• The major eventually let the landlords scramble for the military greatcoats, mocking them as they pleaded not to have the coats taken back.
• Kanel, the landlords, and other arrested resisters were loaded onto military vehicles, leaving police officers and officials to manage the aftermath.

At the front in Nijia, Aaron read soldiers a newspaper report about the foiled terrorist plot in Dugagu and the execution of Alain Kanel and his accomplices. The soldiers celebrated the news before Platoon Leader Blondin received urgent orders from the company commander.

• Soldiers in the 213th Battalion discussed casualties from the two previous battalions and worried about their own first days in combat.
• A platoon leader brought Aaron a newspaper, and the soldiers gathered around to hear its news.
• Aaron read that the National Security Committee had stopped Kanel’s planned terrorist attack in Dugagu without any casualties.
• Aaron reported that government forces had killed 474 armed terrorists, arrested Kanel and fifty-four others, and executed all fifty-five after trial.
• The soldiers cheered Kanel’s execution, then a messenger arrived with urgent orders for Platoon Leader Blondin.

Sankara announced a one-trillion-franc Five-Year Infrastructure Plan and invited officials to offer proposals for it. He promised rewards for useful suggestions and said a capable official could be appointed commander-in-chief of the plan.

• A signalman told Blondin that the National Liberation Alliance was retreating and ordered his platoon to take over the company’s positions while the company attacked.
• Officials from the Finance, Transport, and Construction ministries gathered at the presidential palace for Sankara’s meeting.
• Sankara announced plans to invest one trillion North African francs in roads, railways, power grids, and sewers over five years, funded by expected gold-mining revenue.
• The officials reacted with shock and excitement, questioning the scale of the investment and who would control the program.
• Sankara invited the officials to share their ideas without fear of punishment and offered rewards, including possible appointment as commander-in-chief of the plan.

Sankara concluded a meeting on the Five-Year Infrastructure Plan without choosing its commander-in-chief, then heard from Katelai that the National Liberation Alliance had withdrawn across the Nijia front. He asked whether the United Anti-Government Armed Forces had also retreated from Bugani, but the chapter ended before Katelai answered.

• Ministry of Finance officials and other attendees eagerly debated the Five-Year Infrastructure Plan and competed for the commander-in-chief position.
• Sankara ended the meeting, saying he had candidates in mind, though he had not actually chosen anyone.
• Katelai waited outside the conference hall, and Sankara took him to his office to discuss news from the front.
• Katelai reported that the National Liberation Alliance had withdrawn along the entire Nijia front and government troops had retaken the occupied territory.
• Katelai said the alliance may have retreated because of mounting casualties, while the French role remained unclear.
• Sankara asked whether the United Anti-Government Armed Forces attacking Bugani had withdrawn, but Katelai had not yet replied.

Sankara decided to honor the promised bonus for Claude and the other brigade leaders, but rejected Katelai’s proposal to force them into the Ministry of National Defense or destroy their forces. With the war in Bugani still underway, he left the question of how to handle them unresolved and asked what to do next.

• Katelai told Sankara that the United Anti-Government Army had launched another offensive after the National Liberation Alliance withdrew.
• Sankara decided to ask the Soviet Union for intelligence about the opposing forces’ actions.
• Katelai asked whether the government should pay Claude and the others their promised billion North African francs, and Sankara ordered the money divided according to their brigades’ contributions.
• Katelai proposed promoting Claude and the others into the Ministry of National Defense or wiping out their forces if they refused, but Sankara warned that this could provoke the four brigades in Bugani to defect.
• Katelai apologized for his flawed plan, Sankara reassured him, and Katelai asked how they should proceed.

Sankara and Katelai devised ways to keep Claude and his forces from growing stronger by sending them to reclaim territory and gradually transferring their best soldiers into the Army Senior Officer School. Meanwhile, French intelligence learned that its mercenaries had killed the National Liberation Alliance’s leaders and retreated after suffering severe daily casualties, leaving the director stunned by the scale of the losses.

• Sankara proposed ordering Claude and his forces to attack the National Liberation Alliance and recover lost territory, weakening them while investigating the Alliance’s sudden retreat.
• Katelai suggested transferring a few of Claude’s best officers and soldiers at a time through promotions, and Sankara planned to enroll them in the Army Senior Officer School.
• Sankara told Katelai to summon the Ministry of National Defense’s staff officers so they could develop a practical plan together.
• At the Élysée Palace, the North African Strategic Intelligence Bureau’s director demanded an explanation for the National Liberation Alliance’s retreat.
• An intelligence officer reported that the mercenaries sent by the French had killed Alliance leaders who opposed retreat and then led the Alliance out of the fighting.
• The officer revealed that the Alliance had suffered roughly 150 to 200 deaths and 400 wounded per day, while the mercenaries had suffered over forty deaths and 150 wounded per day, and the director struggled to believe the figures.

The brigade commanders discussed the Ministry of National Defense’s order to send their battle-hardened personnel to the Army Senior Officer School, while preparing to attack National Liberation Alliance territory. Orore learned that his transfer had been approved, leaving him stunned at the prospect of becoming a senior officer.

• Alexander, the Ailidun Brigade commander, and Claude agreed they could not refuse orders to attack the National Liberation Alliance, despite suspecting the transfers would weaken their forces.
• The Ailidun Brigade commander warned Bal that opposing the Army Senior Officer School transfers could destroy his future, and Alexander agreed to comply.
• Soldiers in Orore’s trench celebrated after learning he had been admitted to the Army Senior Officer School by special exception.
• The battalion commander presented Orore with the transfer order bearing Joseph Claude’s approval and urged him not to forget his supporters.
• Orore read the brigade commander’s signature and silently realized he might become a senior officer.

The United Anti-Government Army's leaders argued over their stalled advance on Bugani, while mercenaries controlling the National Liberation Alliance's remaining forces debated their future in Li Bal. Their plans to settle in the territory were interrupted when they learned the Republic of Burkina's government forces had attacked.

• A scar-faced man and his companion mocked the United Anti-Government Army's infighting and blamed its factions for being pinned down near Bugani.
• In Li Bal, starving civilians watched a machine-gun pickup pass through the decaying city toward a luxurious estate.
• Foreign mercenaries argued over killing the National Liberation Alliance's leaders and whether they could return to France.
• The one-eyed boss proposed ruling the Alliance's territory and paying the men, while the others worried about their troops and the Republic of Burkina.
• A mercenary rushed in and reported that the Republic of Burkina's government forces had launched an attack.