Togo has arrested and extradited Paul-Henri Damiba, Burkina Faso’s former leader, to his home country.
According to Togolese authorities, Damiba was arrested Saturday and flown to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital. The move comes about two weeks after authorities in Burkina Faso accused him of plotting a coup.
Damiba seized power in 2022 after overthrowing the country’s civilian government, which had faced growing criticism over its handling of Islamist militant violence. He was later ousted the same year in a coup led by Ibrahim Traore, who remains head of the military-led government.
Earlier this month, Burkina Faso said it foiled a plot to assassinate Traore, alleging that Damiba, who had been living in Lomé, Togo’s capital, was behind the plan.
Togolese Justice Minister, Pacome Adjourouvi, confirmed the extradition in a statement, saying Damiba was arrested in Lomé on Jan. 16 “in execution of an arrest warrant accompanied by an extradition request” submitted four days earlier by Burkinabe authorities. He was handed over to the authorities in Ouagadougou the day after his arrest.
The statement added that Damiba is being prosecuted for “criminal embezzlement of public funds, criminal illicit enrichment, corruption, incitement to commit offences and crimes, aggravated concealment and money laundering”.
The minister said the extradition was approved because Burkina Faso provided “guarantees” regarding Damiba’s physical integrity and his right to a fair trial.