Togo has arrested and expelled Burkina Faso’s former president, Paul-Henri Damiba, sending him back to his home country following allegations that he was involved in a coup plot, according to two sources cited by Reuters on Tuesday.
Damiba initially seized power in Burkina Faso in 2022 through a coup against the civilian government, which had struggled to contain escalating attacks by Islamist militants. However, his inability to curb the insurgency fueled discontent within the military, leading to his ouster later that year by Ibrahim Traore, who continues to lead the country’s military-backed government.
Earlier this month, Burkina Faso authorities announced that they had foiled a plot to assassinate Traore, allegedly orchestrated by Damiba, who had been taking refuge in Togo’s capital, Lome.
A security source and a source close to Togo’s presidency told Reuters that Damiba was arrested on Saturday and flown to Ouagadougou. Attempts to reach Damiba for comment were unsuccessful, and it remains unclear whether he had legal representation in Togo.
Neither the Togolese nor the Burkinabe governments responded to requests for comment. The source close to Togo’s presidency did not directly link Damiba to any specific coup plan but indicated that he had previously been warned against engaging in activities that could destabilize Burkina Faso.
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