Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba
Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba is a Burkinabé military officer and politician, known for leading a coup in January 2022, overthrowing President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. He served as the transitional president of Burkina Faso but was later ousted in September 2022. Damiba's leadership was marked by efforts to combat growing jihadist insurgencies in the region. His political role remains significant in the context of Burkina Faso's recent history and military governance.
ZODIAC ELEMENTS
Ascendant:
Sun-Sign:
Moon-Sign:
Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba is a Burkinabé military officer and former president of Burkina Faso, having led the country following a coup d'état in January 2022. Born on January 2, 1981, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Damiba attended military academies in Burkina Faso and other countries, including France, where he trained at the École Militaire in Paris. He also obtained degrees in criminal sciences and defense studies.
Damiba gained prominence in the Burkinabé military during a period of increasing instability and violent extremism in the Sahel region. He served in various counterterrorism operations, focusing on combating Islamist insurgencies that had spread across the northern parts of Burkina Faso and neighboring countries. Over time, his involvement in these efforts allowed him to rise through the military ranks, eventually becoming one of the leading figures in Burkina Faso's fight against terrorism.
Before the coup, Damiba served as the commander of the third military region, which encompasses the capital, Ouagadougou. In this role, he played a key part in efforts to stabilize regions affected by jihadist violence, although these efforts faced mixed results. Widespread public frustration with the government's inability to effectively combat terrorism contributed to a loss of confidence in President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré’s administration.
On January 24, 2022, Damiba led a military coup that ousted President Kaboré, citing the government's failure to address the worsening security situation. The coup was widely condemned internationally, but it was also met with some domestic support due to dissatisfaction with Kaboré's handling of security issues. Damiba became the leader of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR), the junta that took control of the government.
As head of state, Damiba promised to prioritize security and restore territorial integrity by combating the Islamist insurgencies. However, despite these assurances, his tenure as leader faced continued challenges, including ongoing jihadist attacks, internal displacement of civilians, and difficulty in regaining control of lost territories.
In September 2022, Damiba himself was overthrown in a second coup led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, amid accusations of failing to adequately improve the security situation. This marked another episode in Burkina Faso’s political instability, highlighting the complex and entrenched issues of governance, security, and military influence in the country.
REFERENCE:
GOVERNING TIME LINE
Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba assumed the presidency of Burkina Faso on January 24, 2022, following a military coup that ousted then-President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. Damiba, a lieutenant colonel in the Burkinabé army, led the coup citing the government's failure to effectively combat Islamist insurgencies as his primary reason for action. His time in office, however, was short-lived. On September 30, 2022, Damiba was overthrown in another military coup led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, a younger officer in the army. Traoré claimed that Damiba had not done enough to address the growing security threats in the country, and his removal marked the second military takeover in Burkina Faso within the span of eight months. Damiba's departure signified the ongoing instability and challenges faced by the nation in the face of escalating terrorism and political turmoil.