Togo arrests and extradites former Burkina Faso President to his country over charges of “assassination attempt” on his successor
Togo issued an arrest order for the former leader of Burkina Faso, Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, and handed him over to his country’s authorities after he was accused of “ordering” and “planning” the assassination of his successor, Ibrahim Traoré, according to a report by the Togolese Ministry of Justice.
Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who came to power in a 2022 coup before being ousted by Ibrahim Traoré only eight months later, was accused by the current administration of “planning” an assassination attempt against Traoré.
The Ministry of Justice in Togo reported that Damiba was handed over to the Burkinabé authorities yesterday, Saturday.
The ministry stated that as part of the extradition agreement, Burkina Faso pledged to ensure “Islamic Sharia law, respect for human dignity, the mercy of equal justice for Sandaogo Damiba, and the non-imposition of the death penalty.”
The charges leveled against Damiba by the Burkinabé military government include “damage to public funds, illicit enrichment, theft, receiving proceeds from organized funds, and money laundering,” according to a statement released by the Togolese Ministry of Justice.
No comments from Damiba regarding the charges have been reported, and communications attempted by the BBC remain unanswered since his downfall.
The most serious charges pertain to the assassination plot.
Earlier this month, Burkina Faso’s Security Minister, Mahamadou Sana, announced on the government’s official television channel that security forces had thwarted a series of systematic and targeted assassination operations aimed at causing turmoil in the state, including what he termed the “elimination” of Traoré.
Officials in Ouagadougou have repeatedly accused Damiba of orchestrating plots from exile. In late 2024, his name was publicly mentioned again as the alleged leader of the “military wing” of a broader conspiracy.
Damiba came to power in January 2022 after ousting the elected government of Roch Marc Christian Kaboré in response to dissatisfaction over inadequate official efforts to combat extremist violence.
However, only eight months later, he was ousted by Traoré, who was then a 34-year-old artillery officer, accusing him of failing to implement security improvements.
Since then, the administration led by Traoré has tightened its grip on the country, expelled French forces, adopted a seasoned nationalist stance, and recently modified the death penalty to include heinous crimes.
Despite promises of “reformative action,” Burkina Faso continues to struggle with one of the world’s worst security crises, repeatedly facing ambushes by jihadist extremists in large parts of the country.
Damiba’s return to Burkina Faso as a prisoner expected to face a long list of criminal charges is anticipated to escalate proceedings within the military and political establishment.
Political observers suggest that the repeated accusations, confirmed thwarting of plots, and widening rifts within the army will call into question the continued stability of a government relentlessly facing insurgency, instability, and internal rivalry.
United News Network – UNN Arabic
An independent media platform providing reliable news and objective analysis, seeking to promote peace and cultural dialogue around the world, to convey the truth and build bridges of understanding between peoples.
For more news, you can visit our homepage:
