Eleven Nigerian military officers were briefly held in Burkina Faso after their aircraft made an unexpected stop in the country, prompting a diplomatic dispute over airspace sovereignty.
Burkinabè security sources told the BBC that the C-130 military plane entered Burkina Faso’s airspace on Monday without prior clearance.
Burkina Faso’s Territorial Administration Minister, Emile Zerbo, confirmed the aircraft had violated national airspace.
In response, the military governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger issued a joint statement saying their investigation confirmed the plane’s entry into their airspace without authorization, calling it a breach of the sovereignty of their states.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said the emergency landing was due to a technical fault while the plane was en route to Portugal.
"The crew is safe and have received cordial treatment from the host authorities," the NAF statement said, though it did not clarify whether the officers had been detained.
The aircraft touched down in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso’s second-largest city, which the Nigerian Air Force said was the closest airfield to ensure the plane’s safety. However, the account from the three Sahel countries, formally known as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), disagreed, insisting the plane had entered Burkina Faso without permission and had been forced to land.
"An investigation was immediately opened by the competent Burkinabè services and highlighted the lack of authorisation to fly over Burkinabè territory for this military apparatus," the AES said. The statement described the landing as an "unfriendly act" and warned that the air forces of the three countries were on high alert, authorized to "neutralise any aircraft" violating the confederation’s airspace.
The AES said the aircraft carried two crew members and nine passengers, all military officers. Burkinabè authorities later confirmed that the officers were released and allowed to return to Nigeria.
The Nigerian Air Force said it would resume its mission to Portugal as planned, emphasizing that it remains committed to aviation safety standards and operational procedures.
Political observers have linked the incident to Nigeria’s deployment of troops and aircraft to Benin following a failed coup attempt on Sunday. Nigeria led the regional mission under the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) to stabilize the situation.
Earlier this year, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger officially withdrew from Ecowas, citing political and security disagreements, including demands from the bloc to restore democratic governance. The three military-led countries have also shifted foreign alliances, reducing ties with France and strengthening links with Russia.
