Burkina Faso’s military government has confirmed the detention of 11 Nigerian military personnel and the seizure of a Nigerian Air Force cargo aircraft after they conducted an emergency landing while “violating AES airspace”.
In a statement issued late Monday, the AES claims a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft belonging to the Nigerian Air Force violated Burkinabe airspace and conducted an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, on December 8, 2025.
The AES comprises Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali, all currently under military rule said, “An investigation was immediately opened by the competent Burkinabe authorities and revealed the absence of authorization for the aircraft 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.
“Faced with this unfriendly act carried out in disregard of international law and international civil and/or military aviation regulations, measures have been taken to guarantee 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.
The bloc further stated that air defense and anti-aircraft systems across the confederation have been authorized to neutralize any aircraft that violates its airspace.
“In this regard, and upon the instruction of the Heads of State, air defense and anti-aircraft systems of the confederal space have been placed on maximum alert, in accordance with the Declaration of the College of Heads of State dated 22 December 2024, and have been authorized to neutralize any aircraft that violates the confederal airspace.”
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