Two months after his extradition from Togo on January 17, 2026, the fate of former Burkinabe transitional president Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba remains a mystery. Held incommunicado in Ouagadougou, the former lieutenant colonel is completely cut off from the world, leaving his family in growing anguish.

An incarceration shrouded in the shadows of intelligence

Overthrown in 2022 by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, Damiba is now at the heart of a legal and security crisis. According to available information, he is being held in isolation in an annex of the National Intelligence Agency (ANR) .

His family, who say they have received no sign of life since his arrest, are worried about the brutality of his detention conditions. Reports, notably relayed by Radio France Internationale , describe "aggressive" interrogations and possible physical abuse. These methods are reminiscent of the abuses denounced during the recent Koupéla trial, where magistrates also reported violence during their hearings.

A complete legal gray area

The legal situation of the former head of state is characterized by a striking lack of transparency:

1. Lack of defense: Sixty days after his incarceration, no lawyer has yet been officially authorized to represent or assist him.
2. Charges: The Burkinabe authorities are prosecuting him on serious grounds, including:
3. Involvement in attempts at destabilization (coups d'état).
4. Criminal embezzlement of public funds.
5. Illicit enrichment and corruption.

The essentials in brief

Current situation	Details
Date of arrest	January 17, 2026
Alleged location	ANR Annex, Ouagadougou
Legal status	Held incommunicado, without a lawyer
Main risks	Allegations of physical abuse