By Muhammad Mamman
The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has issued a strong rebuke to Nigeria after a military aircraft made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso without prior authorisation, sparking fresh diplomatic tensions in the region.
In a joint statement released by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger—member countries of the AES—the bloc alleged that the Nigerian aircraft, which was carrying 11 military personnel, entered Burkina Faso’s airspace without clearance from authorities in Ouagadougou.
According to the statement, the aircraft was detected by Burkinabè defence systems before it made an unscheduled landing. The AES said the flight “did not have permission to operate or transit within Burkina Faso’s sovereign territory,” describing the incident as a breach of airspace regulations.
The alliance further noted that the situation raised “serious concerns” given ongoing geopolitical friction between the AES states and neighbouring members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), of which Nigeria is a leading power.
Burkina Faso’s military government is yet to disclose additional details regarding the condition of the aircraft or the Nigerian personnel onboard. It is also unclear whether the aircraft has since departed or remains under inspection.
Nigerian authorities have not issued an official response, though security sources suggest the flight may have been forced to divert due to technical difficulties. Nonetheless, the AES insisted that any aircraft—military or civilian—must obtain formal permission before entering its airspace.
The incident comes at a sensitive time, as relations between the AES bloc and some West African neighbours remain strained following the trio’s withdrawal from ECOWAS earlier this year.
More updates are expected as both sides work to clarify the circumstances surrounding the emergency landing.
