Lomé, Togo — Exiled Burkina Faso Leader Arrested and Expelled. Lomé, Togo — Burkina Faso’s former transitional president, Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who led a coup in 2022, has been arrested in Togo and expelled, local sources say. Damiba, who was himself overthrown by military leader Ibrahim Traoré in 2023, is alleged to have masterminded several coup plots against the Burkinabe government.
According to local reports, Damiba was arrested in Lomé last week and tried for attempting to destabilize Burkina Faso. He was then taken to the airport, although his final destination has not been confirmed. Since going into exile in Togo, Damiba has been accused of numerous coup and assassination plots.
Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, reported that authorities had foiled an attempted assassination of Traoré planned for January 3.
A number of alleged conspirators have appeared on state TV, claiming to have acted on orders from Damiba. Security officials stated that Damiba had planned several targeted assassinations of civilian and military figures, starting with Traoré.
The situation in Burkina Faso has been tense since Damiba’s coup in 2022, which led to a period of political instability.
The country has seen several attempts to destabilize the government, with the most recent involving Damiba from his exile in Togo.
The BBC and Al Jazeera have reported on the thwarted coup in Benin, highlighting the government’s efforts to maintain control and the loyalty of the military.
Facebook posts suggest that Damiba was involved in an attempt to destabilize the Burkinabe government from Togo, indicating a regional dimension to the political instability. Further details are expected as the situation unfolds.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 3*
