Togo has arrested and extradited Burkina Faso’s former president, Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, handing him over to authorities in Ouagadougou amid serious accusations that he plotted to assassinate the country’s current leader.
Damiba, who seized power in a military coup in January 2022, ruled for just eight months before being overthrown by Captain Ibrahim Traoré. Burkina Faso’s ruling military government now accuses him of masterminding a coup attempt and an assassination plot against President Traoré while living in exile.
According to Togo’s Ministry of Justice, Damiba was transferred to Burkinabè authorities on Saturday following formal extradition proceedings. Togolese officials say the handover was conducted under strict guarantees from Burkina Faso, including assurances of Damiba’s physical safety, respect for his dignity, fair-trial rights, and confirmation that the death penalty will not be applied in his case.
Beyond the alleged murder plot, Damiba faces a wide range of criminal charges, including embezzlement of public funds, illicit enrichment, corruption, aggravated possession of stolen goods, and money laundering. However, the most serious accusation remains the alleged attempt to eliminate President Traoré.
Earlier this month, Burkina Faso’s Security Minister Mahamadou Sana announced on state television that security forces had dismantled a network planning targeted assassinations aimed at destabilizing the state. Among the alleged objectives, he said, was the “neutralization” of President Traoré. Authorities have repeatedly named Damiba as the coordinator of these plots, accusing him of directing operations from abroad. In late 2024, he was publicly identified as the head of what officials described as the “military wing” of a broader conspiracy.
Damiba initially rose to power by overthrowing elected president Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, citing the government’s inability to contain Islamist violence. But his own leadership quickly came under fire for failing to improve security, leading to his removal by Traoré, then a 34-year-old artillery officer.
Since taking power, the Traoré-led junta has adopted a hard-line nationalist approach, expelling French troops, tightening control over political life, and reinstating the death penalty for crimes including high treason. Despite these measures, Burkina Faso remains engulfed in one of the world’s most severe security crises, with jihadist attacks continuing across large swathes of the country.
Analysts warn that Damiba’s return under arrest could deepen divisions within the military and political establishment. Repeated allegations of coup plotting, internal rivalries, and ongoing insurgent violence are raising fresh questions about the long-term stability of a government facing threats both from within and beyond its borders.
Reporting by Ehud Jones.
