Just In: AES Accuses Nigeria Of Airspace Violation After NAF Plane Lands In Burkina Faso (Details)

The Alliance for Sahel States (AES), a regional bloc comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and the Niger Republic, has accused Nigeria of breaching its airspace after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso.

The incident, which occurred on Monday, involved a C-130 military transport aircraft carrying two crew members and nine passengers, all of whom were military personnel.

In a statement issued by the AES, the bloc explained that the Nigerian aircraft made an emergency landing in Bobo Dioulasso, a major city in Burkina Faso’s south-western region, while transiting through Burkinabè airspace.

Authorities in Burkina Faso launched an investigation into the incident, concluding that the aircraft lacked proper authorisation to fly over the country, a violation the AES described as a breach of international aviation norms and national sovereignty.

“This constitutes an infringement of national sovereignty and a breach of international law and international rules governing civil and military aviation,” the AES said in the statement.

The confederation described the incident as an “unfriendly act” and pledged to take steps to reinforce the security of its airspace and ensure the sovereignty of member states.

“Measures have been taken to ensure the security of the Confederation’s airspace, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its member states, and the safety of the populations of the AES Confederation,” the bloc stated.

The statement translated to English reads: “The Confederation of Sahel States informs the public that an aircraft belonging to the Nigerian Federal Republic Air Force, type C-130, was forced to land today, 08 December 2025, in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, following an in-flight emergency while operating in Burkinabe airspace.

“The military aircraft was carrying two (02) crew members and nine (09) passengers, all military personnel.

“An investigation was immediately opened by the competent Burkinabe authorities and revealed that this military aircraft had no authorisation to overfly Burkinabe territory.

“The Confederation of Sahel States condemns in the strongest possible terms this violation of its airspace and of the sovereignty of its member states.

“In response to this unfriendly act committed in disregard of international law and the international rules of civil and/or military aviation, measures have been taken to ensure the security of the confederal airspace, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its member states, as well as the safety of the populations of the AES Confederation.

“To that end, and on the instructions of the Heads of State, the air and anti-aircraft defences of the confederal airspace, placed on maximum alert in accordance with the Declaration of the College of Heads of State dated 22 December 2024, have been authorised to neutralise any aircraft that violates confederal airspace.”

Incident Follows Nigeria’s Role In Foiling Benin Coup

Tensions between Nigeria and the AES have been simmering in recent months and may be reignited by this latest episode. The incident also comes shortly after Nigeria’s military helped foil a coup attempt in neighbouring Benin Republic.

While ECOWAS and Nigeria saw the intervention as necessary to protect democratic order, the AES bloc has viewed it as a hostile move and a continuation of what it describes as external interference.

In January 2025, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso officially withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), citing a lack of support in fighting terrorism and opposition to sanctions imposed following military coups in the three nations.

Although ECOWAS later lifted the sanctions and introduced guidelines for economic and civil cooperation, such as visa-free travel and duty-free trade, the AES bloc introduced a 0.5 per cent import levy on ECOWAS member countries in April, signalling deepening division.

Source: Naijanews