By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
Togo has arrested and expelled Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, Burkina Faso’s former transitional president and the alleged mastermind behind several failed coup attempts against the country’s military government, sources familiar with the matter said on Monday.
Damiba was detained last week in Lomé and questioned over allegations of attempted destabilisation in Burkina Faso, according to one of his associates. After questioning, he was taken to the airport and expelled from the country.
A regional security official and a Togolese source close to the case confirmed the arrest and expulsion. While his final destination was not officially disclosed, some sources said he was likely sent back to Burkina Faso.
Authorities in Ouagadougou had not commented on the development as of late Monday.
Damiba, a former lieutenant-colonel, seized power in a January 2022 coup that overthrew President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. He was himself removed from office eight months later in another coup that installed Captain Ibrahim Traoré as Burkina Faso’s leader.
Since his ouster, the ruling military junta has accused Damiba of orchestrating multiple coup plots and assassination attempts against Traoré. Earlier this month, the government alleged that Damiba and his associates planned a series of targeted killings on January 3, beginning with what it described as an attempt to “neutralise” Traoré.
