Burkina Faso: Damiba, the controversial refugee at the center of a vast destabilization network
The land of the upright is once again facing a serious threat to its stability. On Monday, September 23, 2024, the Minister of Security, Mahamadou Sana, revealed a large-scale destabilization network involving former President Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba. Now calling himself “the patriarch,” Damiba is accused of being one of the masterminds behind a plot to overthrow the ongoing Transitional government.
According to the information shared by the minister, this network has troubling ties with certain foreign powers and is said to have recruited a terrorist group operating in the Center-East region, known as “The Centrals.” This same group is suspected of being responsible for the bloody attack in Barsalogho and had the objective of taking the capital, Ouagadougou. Other individuals allegedly involved in this conspiracy include prominent figures such as Abdoulaye Barry, Aziz Diallo, Newton Ahmed Barry, Alpha Barry, Djibril Bassolé, Aziz Dabo, and Commander François Zoungrana, all named as key players in this attempted coup.
This situation demands a strong response from the Togolese authorities, as Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba, currently exiled in Togo, continues to pose a serious threat to regional peace and security. The actions of this former president, already known for his ambiguous role in Burkina Faso’s political past, must be immediately contained. As the host country, Togo bears a moral and political responsibility to closely monitor the activities of this controversial refugee to prevent him from using his status to incite unrest against his own country, which is undergoing reconstruction.
Togolese authorities must act swiftly to neutralize any subversive intentions and demonstrate their commitment to preserving peace and stability in the sub-region. Impunity cannot be tolerated for those conspiring against the sovereignty of a neighboring state, risking plunging the region into chaos. The people of Burkina Faso, already heavily burdened by terrorism, deserve unconditional support from all neighboring countries in their fight for security and unity.
