The Confederation of Sahel States (AES) has detained a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft in Burkina Faso after accusing it of entering the country’s airspace without authorization.
Okay News reports that the aircraft, which had 11 military personnel onboard, was forced to land in Bobo-Dioulasso on December 8, 2025.
AES said the plane was compelled to land due to what was described as an emergency during its flight. In a statement, the bloc announced that, “An aircraft belonging to the Air Force of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, type C-130, was forced to land this day, December 8, 2025, in Bobo-Djoulasso, Burkina Faso, following an emergency situation during a flight while they were flying in Burkina Faso airspace.”
The AES added that the military aircraft carried “two crew members and nine all-military passengers.”
Authorities in Burkina Faso immediately began an investigation into the incident. The AES later stated that the probe showed the aircraft “did not have authorization to fly over Burkina Faso.” It described the flight as a violation of sovereignty and international aviation norms.
In its statement, the AES said it “condemns with the utmost firmness this violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member states.” It also disclosed that “measures have been taken to ensure the security of the Confederation’s airspace, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its member states, and the safety of the populations of the AES Confederation.”
The development comes at a time of rising tensions between Nigeria and the AES, the regional alliance formed by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger after their withdrawal from ECOWAS in early 2025.
The incident occurred a day after the Nigerian Armed Forces intervened in the Republic of Benin following an attempted coup. According to the Nigerian presidency, the intervention came after two written requests from the Beninese government asking for immediate military assistance to restore order. President Tinubu had commended the armed forces for their “rapid response and professionalism” in stabilizing the situation.
