Gambiaj.com – (LOMÉ, Togo) – Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, the former president of Burkina Faso’s transition government, has reportedly been extradited from Togo to Ouagadougou under circumstances that remain unclear, raising concern across West African diplomatic circles.
According to exclusive information published by Jeune Afrique, events surrounding Damiba’s fate accelerated late last week.
Sources close to the former leader told the pan-African publication that he was arrested “in the middle of the week” at his residence in the Lomé 2 district, where he had been living under the protection of Togolese authorities since being ousted from power in 2022.
The same sources say Damiba was presented on Friday, January 16, before the Lomé Court of Appeal without legal representation and charged with “attempting to destabilize and endanger state security.” The following evening, Togolese security officers reportedly returned to his residence and instructed his wife to prepare her belongings.
According to accounts relayed by his entourage, Damiba bid his wife a brief farewell, urging her to “be strong,” before being taken away “to an unknown destination by hooded men.” A member of the security services allegedly later informed his wife that he would be flown to Ouagadougou aboard a Burkinabè aircraft.
If confirmed, the extradition would come amid heightened political and security tensions in Burkina Faso. The military-led government of Captain Ibrahim Traoré has repeatedly accused its predecessor of plotting to regain power.
Earlier this month, authorities in Ouagadougou announced that they had foiled a coup attempt, alleging that Damiba was the “mastermind,” and aired televised confessions from individuals presented as his accomplices.
The reported transfer also raises serious concerns for Damiba’s safety. In December, Burkina Faso officially reinstated the death penalty for acts of high treason. Jeune Afrique reports that Damiba, aware of the risks he faced, had on several occasions requested permission to relocate to the United States, requests that were reportedly denied.
Neither Togolese nor Burkinabè authorities have publicly confirmed the extradition as of the time of reporting, leaving key questions unanswered about Damiba’s legal status and whereabouts.
