What You Need to Know
Togo’s authorities have detained former Burkina Faso transitional president Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who was living in exile in Lomé. He was arrested last week and charged with attempting to destabilize the country. His fate remains uncertain, with speculation that he may be deported back to Burkina Faso, where he faces serious legal challenges.
Africa. Sources confirm that authorities in Togo have detained the former transitional president of Burkina Faso, Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who had been living in exile in the capital, Lomé, before being deported under unclear circumstances.
Damiba was ousted in January 2022 following a coup that removed the then-elected president Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, just nine months into his rule, by the current leader, General Ibrahim Traoré. Since then, he has been accused by authorities in Ouagadougou of being behind several coup attempts, the latest occurring earlier this month.
Regional security sources and others close to the case confirmed that Damiba was arrested last week in Lomé and appeared before a court on charges of “attempting to destabilize the state” before being taken directly to the airport. His final destination is unknown, but some sources suggest he may have been deported back to Burkina Faso.
Authorities’ Position
As of Monday evening, no official comment had been made by the authorities in Burkina Faso regarding the operation. However, Traoré had expressed hope at the end of last year for Damiba’s return to face justice in his home country. In a related development, Ouagadougou has recently reinstated the death penalty, particularly in cases of high treason, raising concerns about Damiba’s fate should his return be confirmed.
According to observers, this development comes amid ongoing political and security tensions in Burkina Faso, as the country faces escalating challenges related to armed attacks and divisions within the military. Damiba’s arrest may represent a new turning point in the power struggle and intensify the debate surrounding the future of the political transition in the country.
Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba came to power in January 2022 after a coup that ousted the elected president Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. However, his rule was short-lived, as he was overthrown by General Ibrahim Traoré just nine months later. Since then, Damiba has been accused of orchestrating several coup attempts, leading to his current detention in Togo.
