Eleven members of the Nigerian military are currently being held in Burkina Faso after their transport aircraft, a C-130, unexpectedly touched down in the city of Bobo Dioulasso on Monday. The situation has added yet another layer to West Africa’s already complex security landscape.
According to the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which brings together the military-led governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, the aircraft entered Burkinabé airspace without prior clearance. The AES described the landing as a breach of its sovereignty, prompting its leadership to issue a stern warning.
Mali’s transitional leader, Assimi Goïta, who also heads the AES confederation, called the incident an “unfriendly act” and instructed member states to treat future unapproved flights across their territory as potential threats.
Nigeria offered a different explanation. Its Air Force reported that the aircraft was heading to Portugal for a scheduled mission when the crew noticed a technical problem and opted for a precautionary landing. The Air Force stressed that the personnel were unharmed and had been treated respectfully by Burkinabé authorities. Nigerian officials say arrangements are underway to complete the original flight assignment.
The timing of the emergency landing raised eyebrows, as it came less than a day after Nigeria participated in a rapid intervention in neighboring Benin. That operation followed an attempt by soldiers in Cotonou to seize state broadcasting facilities and announce the removal of President Patrice Talon. Beninese authorities later confirmed that the coup attempt had been contained.
Nigeria has said that its air operations over Benin were carried out at President Talon’s request and in line with ECOWAS procedures. Aircraft from Côte d’Ivoire were also spotted over Benin at the height of the crisis, indicating coordinated action among countries still aligned with the regional bloc.
The AES, which was created following a bitter split with ECOWAS in 2023, has accused the bloc of meddling in internal affairs and siding with Western powers. Relations have remained tense since ECOWAS threatened military intervention in Niger after the overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum.
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With the Nigerian crew still in Burkina Faso and diplomatic channels working behind the scenes, the episode has highlighted both the fragile cooperation and the deepening distrust among West African states navigating coups, shifting alliances, and competing regional blocs.
