By: Isaac Kwabena Boadu Date: 9th December, 2025
A Nigerian Air Force C-130 transport plane made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso’s Bobo Dioulasso airport on Monday, sparking tensions with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The AES, comprising Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, condemned the landing as an unfriendly act and a violation of their airspace, stating the aircraft lacked authorization to fly over Burkinabe territory.
The Nigerian Air Force confirmed the emergency landing, attributing it to a technical issue detected mid-flight, and assured the crew’s safety. However, the AES has placed its air defenses on maximum alert, authorizing action against unauthorized aircraft.
The incident follows Nigeria’s recent military intervention in Benin to quell a coup attempt, further straining relations between Nigeria and the AES, which withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in January.
Below is a Statement released by the Burkinabe Government to the Government of Nigeria.
AFRICAN VOICES INTERNATIONAL, FREEDOM IN AFRICA
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