Lome – Togo has arrested and expelled former Burkina Faso president Paul Henri Damiba to his home country following allegations that he was involved in efforts to destabilise the military led government in Ouagadougou, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The development was confirmed in Lome on January 20 after a security source and another source close to Togo’s presidency told Reuters that Damiba had been arrested on Saturday and flown to Burkina Faso’s capital. Later the same day, Togolese authorities acknowledged the extradition in a statement, saying it followed a formal request received from Burkina Faso on January 12.
Damiba seized power in Burkina Faso in 2022 after overthrowing a civilian government that had come under pressure for failing to curb escalating violence by Islamist militant groups. His own leadership was short lived, as divisions within the armed forces deepened over continued insecurity. He was removed later that year in another coup led by Captain Ibrahim Traore, who remains at the helm of the country’s military government.
Earlier this month, Burkina Faso announced it had foiled an alleged plot to assassinate Traore. Authorities claimed the plan had been orchestrated by Damiba, who had been living in exile in the Togolese capital. While the Togolese government confirmed the extradition, its statement did not refer to the alleged coup plot.
Instead, it said Damiba faces charges in Burkina Faso that include embezzlement of public funds, illicit enrichment, corruption and money laundering. Reuters reported that it was unable to reach Damiba for comment and it was unclear whether he had legal representation in Togo. The government in Ouagadougou also did not respond to requests for comment.
A source close to Togo’s presidency said Damiba had previously been cautioned over involvement in activities seen as attempts to undermine stability in his home country, although no direct link to a specific coup attempt was made.
The arrest and expulsion come amid continued political volatility across West and Central Africa, a region that has experienced nine military coups since 2020. Traore has repeatedly announced that his administration has uncovered several attempts to remove him from power.
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