Conflicting accounts emerged on Tuesday following the detention of a Nigerian Air Force, NAF, C-130 Hercules aircraft and 11 soldiers in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, after authorities accused the crew of entering the country’s airspace without clearance.
Burkinabe officials confirmed that the military transport aircraft and its occupants were detained on Monday after landing in the southwestern city. Nigerian authorities, however, said the crew diverted into Burkina Faso due to technical concerns encountered during the flight.
The incident has drawn strong reactions from Burkina Faso and its Sahelian allies Mali and Niger, who jointly described the flight as a violation of sovereignty. The three countries are members of the newly formed Confederation of Sahel States, AES.
Nigeria’s Air Force maintained that the landing was not intentional or hostile. According to sources familiar with the matter, the Hercules aircraft experienced operational issues that made it unsafe to continue to its destination, prompting an unscheduled landing.
Burkina Faso rejected that explanation, insisting the aircraft failed to obtain prior authorisation to enter its airspace. Officials said the flight breached established international and regional aviation protocols governing military aircraft movements.
In civil aviation, Annex 2 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, sets out the Rules of the Air. These rules establish universal standards for aircraft operations and manoeuvres over international waters and within sovereign airspace.
While primarily designed for civil aviation, similar principles apply to military flights. Flying into another country’s airspace without clearance is regarded as a serious violation and, in extreme cases, can trigger military interception or forced landings.
Burkinabe authorities said these principles guided their response. After the aircraft landed, security services moved swiftly to secure the crew and begin an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the flight.
The AES Secretariat later released a detailed statement signed by Mali’s junta leader, Assimi Goita, offering its account of how the detention unfolded. The statement said the aircraft was “forced to land” in Bobo Dioulasso after an “emergency situation in flight.”
However, it added that investigations by Burkinabe authorities revealed the aircraft was operating within national airspace without the required authorisation. The AES described the aircraft as a “military apparatus” lacking clearance to overfly Burkina Faso.
“The Confederation of Sahel States most strongly condemns this violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member states,” the statement said, expressing strong displeasure over what it termed an unauthorised military incursion.
The AES further said that the actions of Burkinabe authorities were fully supported by Mali and Niger, framing the incident as part of a broader effort to assert control over regional security and territorial integrity.
The episode comes against the backdrop of strained relations between the AES bloc and the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger withdrew from ECOWAS earlier this year following a series of military coups.
The three juntas have repeatedly accused ECOWAS of political interference and failing to address their security concerns, particularly the fight against insurgency in the Sahel region.
Regional analysts say the detention of a Nigerian military aircraft risks deepening tensions, especially given Nigeria’s historic leadership role within ECOWAS and its influence in West African security affairs.
So far, Nigerian authorities have not indicated whether formal diplomatic protests have been lodged or when the aircraft and crew might be released. Sources suggest behind-the-scenes talks are under way to prevent the situation from escalating.
Aviation and security experts note that military flight clearances are typically handled through diplomatic and defence channels and that breakdowns in communication can have serious consequences, particularly in politically sensitive airspace.
As negotiations continue, the fate of the detained aircraft and soldiers remains uncertain. Observers say the incident underscores the fragile security and diplomatic environment in the Sahel and the growing assertiveness of the region’s military-led governments.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
