Burkina Faso authorities dismiss former Head of State, Damiba, 17 other Military Officers from the Army

Former Burkinabè junta leader, Henri Sandaogo Damiba, accused of plotting to overthrow current government

The Burkinabè military government has announced the dismissal of Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, former president of Burkina Faso’s transition government, Yves-Didier Bamouni, former commander of the national theater operations command, Evrard Somda, former head of the national gendarmerie and more than a dozen military officers from the ranks of the national armed forces.

By this decision, Damiba, along with the other officers, lose all benefits they were entitled to as officers in the country’s armed forces.

Henri Damiba, a military officer by training, came to prominence following the coup d’état that ousted President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré in January 2022. Initially celebrated as a key figure in the fight against jihadist groups, Damiba’s government took power under the promise of restoring security and stability in a country long haunted by violence from extremist factions.

His administration was marked by a focus on military operations against jihadist forces, with promises to revitalise the economy and restore public confidence in the government. However, the persistent deterioration of the security situation led to discontent among the populace, as attacks increased in intensity and frequency, often displacing thousands and creating a humanitarian crisis.

According to the decrees dated October 30th, 2024, the officers were sanctioned “for misconduct deemed particularly serious consisting of a serious attack on military dignity and the reputation of the army.”

Names of the other dismissed officers are Lieutenant-Colonel Damiba Paul-Henri Sandaogo; Commander Aouba Abdoul Aziz Baminitayi; Lieutenant-Colonel Somda Kwielé Tièrèbio Evrard François de Sales; Colonel Bamouni Djomagaē Didier Yves; Lieutenant-Colonel Keita Boubakar; Lieutenant-Colonel Toguyeni Malick Damandi; Captain Maïga Christophe André Nicaise Souleymane; Lieutenant-Colonel Ouedraogo Sidpassamdé Wilfried; Captain Coulidiati Bahapouguini; Commander Ouedraogo Tegawendé Cheick Oumar; Captain Ouattara Aboubacar; Lieutenant-Colonel Ouattara Cheick Hamza Tidiane; Lieutenant Kinda Abdoul-Razak; Lieutenant-Colonel Sanou Souleymane; Magistrate-Commander Zorma Pousbila Alphonse.

High ranking military sources say the officers were dismissed for their roles in plots against the Captain Ibrahim Traoré-led government. Earlier reports had pointed to evidences presented by the authorities linking several of these individuals to attempted coup plots against the government and assasination attempts on Traoré’s life.

The evidence included audio recordings detailing how Damiba, Bamouni and Evrad Somda were all involved in assassination attempts and terrorists attacks.

In a statement released on national television on September 23, the Minister of Security, Mahamadou Sana,�had announced the dismantling of a network to destabilise Burkina Faso, which would have involved high-profile people, including former President Damiba. According to the junta, Damiba was to play a major role in this destabilisation attempt: codenamed “Patriarch,” he was to coordinate the military aspect of the operation.