……..NAF C-130 Forced to Land in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso has detained eleven Nigerian military officers and seized a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 transport aircraft after what the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) described as an unauthorised entry into Burkinabe airspace.
The aircraft, which made an emergency landing on 8 December 2025 in Bobo Dioulasso, was intercepted by Burkinabe air-defense units before touching down under what authorities called an “in-flight emergency situation.”
AES Accuses Nigeria of Violating Sovereignty
In a statement issued late Monday, the AES the confederation of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger said the Nigerian military aircraft was operating in Burkinabe airspace without clearance.
The aircraft was forced to land following an in-flight emergency situation while operating in Burkinabe airspace, the AES said. “An investigation revealed the absence of authorisation for the aircraft to fly over Burkinabe territory.”
The junta disclosed that the aircraft carried two crew members and nine military passengers, all of whom were detained immediately after landing.
Air-Defense Systems on Maximum Alert
Burkina Faso condemned the incident as a violation of sovereignty and announced that its military systems across all AES member states had been placed on maximum alert.
Air defense and anti-aircraft systems of the confederal space have been placed on maximum alert and are authorised to neutralize any aircraft that violates the confederal airspace, the AES warned.
The move reflects escalating tensions between Nigeria and the Sahel bloc, which severed ties with ECOWAS earlier in 2025 after accusing the regional body of hostile actions.
Nigerian authorities had issued no official statement on the detention of the personnel or the seizure of the aircraft.
It remains unclear whether the flight was part of a sanctioned military mission, a logistical operation, or a diversion caused by technical failure.
Regional Context and Strained Relations
Security analysts note that tensions between Nigeria and the AES have deepened since the bloc withdrew from ECOWAS, forming a new military alignment seen as increasingly defensive and confrontational.
The latest development risks widening the diplomatic rift, especially as both blocs grapple with insurgencies, border insecurity, and shifting regional alliances.
The detention of 11 Nigerian officers marks one of the most serious confrontations between Abuja and the Sahel junta governments in recent years. While the AES insists the incident was a breach of sovereignty, Nigeria’s silence leaves critical questions unanswered. The decision to activate maximum air-defense alert signals a volatile security environment where miscalculations could escalate into direct confrontation.
