Eleven Nigerian military personnel have been detained by Burkina Faso’s military junta after their Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) accusing the aircraft of “illegally” entering its airspace.
In a strongly worded statement, the AES said Burkinabe authorities opened an immediate investigation which “confirmed the aircraft had no authorization to fly over Burkinabe territory.”
“The Confederation of the Sahel States strongly condemns this violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member states,” the bloc declared, warning that any unauthorized aircraft entering AES airspace “will be neutralized.”
AES leaders said the incident amounted to an “unfriendly act” that breached international aviation rules, prompting a sweeping security response.
They announced that air-defense and anti-aircraft units across the confederation have now been placed on maximum alert and given the green light to engage any aircraft deemed to be violating the region’s airspace—executing a directive first issued by AES heads of state on December 22, 2024.
