Burkina Faso Forces Nigerian Air Force Plane to Land Over Suspected Airspace Breach
Story: written by December 9,2025
Burkina Faso’s government has confirmed that a Nigerian Air Force C-130 transport aircraft with 11 military personnel onboard was compelled to land on Monday after it reportedly entered the country’s airspace without prior approval.
The incident was reported by the Agence d’Information du Burkina, which released a statement from the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) late Monday.
According to the translated statement, the aircraft “was instructed to land on December 8, 2025, in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, after declaring an in-flight emergency while operating within Burkinabe airspace.” AES noted that the plane had two crew members and nine military passengers, all from Nigeria.
Burkina Faso’s authorities said an initial inquiry indicated that the aircraft lacked proper clearance to fly over the country. The AES denounced the act as a breach of the sovereignty of its member nations and announced that its air and anti-aircraft defence units had been placed on high alert.
The regional bloc further cautioned that its defence forces “are authorised to engage any aircraft violating the Confederate airspace,” underscoring rising tensions between the alliance and neighbouring states.
As of the time of this report, neither the Nigerian Air Force nor the Nigerian government has issued an official response.
