Authorities in Burkina Faso have detained 11 personnel from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) after a C-130 cargo plane made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso on December 8, 2025. According to the military government of Burkina Faso, the aircraft entered the country’s airspace without prior authorisation, a move declared a violation of national sovereignty by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Upon landing, all 11 crew and passengers were taken into custody, and investigations were immediately launched. The AES condemned the incident and placed its air and anti-aircraft defences on high alert, signalling readiness to neutralise any future unauthorised aircraft entries.
In response, the NAF issued a statement saying the landing was necessitated by a technical issue during a ferry mission to Portugal. The force confirmed that the crew members are safe, treated respectfully, and plans are underway to resume the mission.
The incident has escalated tensions between Nigeria and the AES bloc, coming shortly after Nigeria’s military intervention in a neighbouring country, a move that AES members had publicly criticised. Regional security analysts warn the event could strain diplomatic relations and complicate cross-border military cooperation.
