Burkina Faso accuses Nigerian Air Force jet of airspace violation as 11 soldiers detained

Ouagadougou, 9 December 2025 – Burkina Faso’s military government has announced that a Nigerian Air Force aircraft carrying 11 Nigerian soldiers violated the country’s airspace on Monday, prompting authorities to force the plane to land in the western city of Bobo-Dioulasso.

In a statement released late Monday and signed by Colonel Assimi Goïta, the junta leader who also heads the neighbouring Malian transitional government, the Burkinabè authorities described the incident as a serious breach of sovereignty. The communiqué claimed the aircraft experienced an “emergency situation in flight” while operating inside Burkina Faso’s airspace without prior authorisation.

“The Burkinabè armed forces detected an aircraft belonging to the Nigerian Air Force that had entered our airspace illegally,” the statement read. “Following established procedures, the aircraft was ordered to land at Bobo-Dioulasso airport, where it was secured.”

Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that the 11 Nigerian military personnel on board have been taken into custody pending further investigation. No injuries were reported, and the aircraft – described as a transport plane – remains under Burkinabè control.

The incident marks a fresh diplomatic flashpoint in an already tense region. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) earlier this year after the regional bloc imposed sanctions over military coups in all three countries. Relations between the Sahelian juntas and Nigeria, which chairs ECOWAS, have since deteriorated sharply.

Neither the Nigerian Ministry of Defence nor the Nigerian Air Force has issued an official response at the time of publication. Sources within ECOWAS, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Abuja is seeking urgent clarification from Ouagadougou and has requested the immediate release of the soldiers and the aircraft.

Analysts suggest the episode could further strain ties between the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) – comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger – and the remaining ECOWAS members. It remains unclear whether the flight was part of a routine operation, a logistical mission, or related to counter-terrorism activities in the region.

Burkina Faso’s government has given no indication of when the detained soldiers might be released and has called on Nigeria to “respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity” of its neighbours.

The development comes amid heightened military movements across the Sahel as insurgent groups continue to exploit governance vacuums in multiple countries. Further updates are expected as both capitals address the escalating situation.