Faith Nyasuguta
Former transitional president of Burkina Faso, Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, has been arrested in Lome, Togo and expelled to Burkina Faso after being accused of orchestrating a series of coup plots and assassination attempts against the West African nations current military leadership, multiple reports say.
Damiba, who briefly ruled Burkina Faso after seizing power in January 2022, was detained last week in Togo where he had lived in exile since being overthrown in September 2022 by Captain Ibrahim Traore. Togolese authorities arrested him around 16 January, escorted him to court, and a judge subsequently ruled in favour of a request from Ouagadougou to extradite him.
According to local media and sources familiar with the situation, the former junta leader was then taken to a plane and flown to Ouagadougou on 18 January 2026, marking a dramatic end to his more than three-year residence in Togo. Details about his current detention status and any formal charges have not been fully disclosed by either Togolese or Burkinabe officials at the time of reporting.
The move comes amid a tense political climate in Burkina Faso following an alleged coup attempt at the beginning of January. Government authorities in Ouagadougou have repeatedly accused Damiba of being the architect of destabilisation efforts against the current military transition headed by Traore.
In early January 2026, Burkina Faso security officials publicly announced that intelligence services had foiled a plan to assassinate President Traore, claiming the plot was scheduled for 3 January and would have targeted other key military and civilian leaders. Alleged conspirators appeared on state television claiming to have acted under Damiba’s direction, according to government broadcasts, although independent verification of these claims has been limited
Officials have also detailed that the alleged plot included plans to disable strategic military infrastructure such as drone bases to facilitate a broader coup attempt and accused external actors of involvement in financing the operation. Burkina Faso security sources suggested some funds may have originated from neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire, which both Damiba and Ivorian authorities have not publicly addressed.
Damiba’s rise and fall showcases Burkina Faso’s recent history of political instability. After ousting elected President Roch Marc Christian Kabore in January 2022, Damiba’s hold on power lasted fewer than nine months before he was toppled by Traore amid accusations of failing to stem escalating jihadist violence.
Since his ouster, Damiba has faced numerous legal and political challenges, including accusations of involvement in destabilisation attempts and plots against the current regime. His arrest, extradition, and the potential legal proceedings ahead are likely to have significant ramifications for Burkina Faso’s already fragile security and political situation as the junta contends with ongoing insurgent violence and power struggles within the region.
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