A Nigerian Air Force C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, carrying 11 military personnel, remains grounded in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, more than a week after making a precautionary landing due to a technical issue. What began as a routine safety procedure has escalated into a diplomatic test of the frayed relations in West Africa.
The incident, which occurred on 8 December 2025, has sparked a diplomatic row between Nigeria and Burkina Faso, amid lingering tensions over regional security and the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The Nigerian Air Force explained that the aircraft, en route from Lagos to Portugal for scheduled maintenance, diverted to the nearest suitable airfield after the crew detected a technical concern shortly after takeoff. According to Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information for the NAF, the landing followed standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols. He emphasised that all personnel on board were safe and had received cordial treatment from Burkinabè authorities.
However, authorities in Burkina Faso, through the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) a military alliance comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger viewed the entry differently. In a statement, the AES said the aircraft was forced to land after operating in Burkinabè airspace without prior authorisation, describing it as a potential breach of sovereignty. An investigation was launched immediately, leading to the detention of the plane and the 11 personnel: two crew members and nine passengers, all Nigerian military officers.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria has since taken the lead in negotiations. Spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa confirmed that diplomatic engagements are ongoing with Burkinabè counterparts to secure the release of both the aircraft and the personnel.
“We are engaging them, but they are yet to be released,” he stated, dismissing earlier reports suggesting a resolution.
This standoff occurs against a backdrop of profoundly strained relations in the Sahel region. Burkina Faso, along with Mali and Niger, formally withdrew from ECOWAS earlier in 2025, citing dissatisfaction with the bloc’s response to military takeovers and its handling of security challenges, including sanctions imposed after coups. Nigeria, as a leading ECOWAS member, played a key role in those measures, which included border closures and asset freezes—actions the AES countries described as punitive and unhelpful in combating jihadist insurgencies.
