By Crystal Ugoeze
Burkina Faso detained 11 Nigerian military officers and a Nigerian Air Force C-130 transport aircraft for allegedly entering its airspace without clearance.
In a statement issued on Monday, the AES said that a C-130 aircraft belonging to the Nigerian Air Force made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso on December 8, 2025. The plane was carrying two crew members and nine military passengers.
Burkinabe authorities reportedly opened an immediate investigation, which confirmed that the aircraft did not have authorization to fly over Burkina Faso.
The regional bloc denounced the incident as a breach of sovereignty and international aviation norms. It
said measures had been activated to safeguard the confederal airspace and the territorial integrity of its member states.
According to the AES, air and anti-air defence systems across the confederation have been placed on maximum alert. The bloc noted that, under directives from its Heads of State, its forces have been instructed to neutralize any aircraft that violates its airspace, in line with a 2024 security declaration.
The AES reaffirmed its commitment to protecting its population and territory from unauthorized military operations
The incident has generated regional concern as diplomatic channels engage to resolve the matter.