The Government of Togo announced on Thursday, January 20, the extradition to Burkina Faso of the former Burkinabe President Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who led the country between January and September 2022.

The former Head of State was extradited on charges of embezzlement of public funds, illicit enrichment, corruption, incitement to commit crimes, money laundering, and for his alleged involvement in the recent attempted coup against the Government of Ibrahim Traore.

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Damiba’s arrest took place on January 16 in Togo, where he was in exile, and the legal process in the host country concluded with an indictment from the investigative chamber and a subsequent extradition ruling issued by the Court of Appeals of Lome. Burkina Faso authorities had requested the extradition on January 12.

This measure was triggered following a national television announcement by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Security, Mahamadou Sana, stating that “an assassination plot targeting high-ranking state officials, including President Ibrahim Traore, was foiled on January 3.” In relation to this event, “former president Damiba is the alleged mastermind of the conspiracy.”

A Togolese government communiqué emphasized that to proceed with the extradition, “the Burkinabe authorities guaranteed the former president’s physical integrity, respect for his right to a fair trial, and the non-application of the death penalty” -essential conditions to ensure a transparent legal process.

Damiba ascended to the presidency on January 24, 2022, when he led Burkinabe rebels to seize power in the name of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration, ousting then-President Roch Kabore. On September 30, 2022, Damiba was overthrown by a group of soldiers led by Captain Traore.

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