Airspace Breach: Burkina Faso Grounds Nigerian Military C-130, Detains 11 Personnel
The Government of Burkina Faso has confirmed that a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 transport aircraft was compelled to land on Monday after reportedly entering the country’s airspace without authorisation. The aircraft, which was carrying 11 military personnel, landed in the southwestern city of Bobo-Dioulasso following what officials described as an “in-flight emergency.”
In a statement released by the junta-led government and the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), authorities said the aircraft violated Burkinabe airspace protocols and did not possess the required clearance to fly into or land in the country. The aircraft’s two crew members and nine additional military passengers were immediately taken into custody.
AES officials stated that the aircraft was intercepted after radar systems detected an unauthorised entry. The bloc described the incident as a “serious breach of sovereignty,” announcing that its air and anti-air defence units had been placed on maximum alert to prevent what it termed “illegal military manoeuvres.”
Reports indicate that the incident occurred amid heightened regional tensions following a failed coup attempt in a neighbouring West African nation. Nigeria’s military had intervened at the request of that government, increasing suspicion among AES member states — Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger — who have had strained relations with ECOWAS in recent years.
The aircraft, a military C-130 transport plane, has since been seized. AES issued a strong warning that any future unauthorised military flights entering its airspace risk being “neutralised.”
As of press time, the Nigerian Government and the Nigerian Air Force have not issued an official response. The fate of the detained personnel remains unclear, raising concerns about the potential diplomatic fallout between Abuja and the AES bloc.
The situation continues to develop as regional observers closely monitor what could escalate into a significant diplomatic standoff between Nigeria and Sahelian military regimes.