Former Burkina Faso transitional president Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba was arrested in Togo and expelled from the country, according to multiple news sources citing regional and Togolese security officials. Damiba, who had been living in exile in Lome since his ouster in 2022, was detained last week and taken to the airport, though his current destination remains unconfirmed.
Damiba initially seized power in January 2022 after overthrowing President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, but was himself removed from office eight months later by Captain Ibrahim Traore, who now leads Burkina Faso’s military government. The Togolese authorities reportedly acted amid pressure from the Burkinabe junta, which accuses Damiba of involvement in multiple attempted coup plots and plans to destabilize the Sahel country.
“Togo has arrested and expelled Burkina Faso’s former president to his home country after officials there accused him of attempting a coup,” Reuters reported, citing security sources.
Damiba’s arrest comes after Burkina Faso announced it had disrupted a plot to kill Traore, allegedly orchestrated by Damiba. The Burkinabe junta has accused Damiba of planning several coup plots and assassination attempts against Traore since his ouster.