The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has accused Nigeria of breaching its airspace after a Nigerian military aircraft made an emergency landing in the western Burkinabe city of Bobo-Dioulasso.
The complaint was delivered on state television by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Émile Zerbo, who read a statement on behalf of General Assimi Goïta, the current chair of the regional bloc.
According to the AES statement, the aircraft; operated by the Nigerian Air Force, executed an emergency landing on 8 December 2025 following an in-flight technical incident.
The plane was reportedly transporting two crew members and nine military personnel. An inquiry by Burkinabe authorities concluded that the aircraft had crossed national airspace without prior authorisation.
The episode unfolds against a backdrop of heightened regional tension. It came just one day after Nigerian military aircraft were deployed to Benin, following an announcement by a faction of soldiers claiming to have removed President Patrice Talon from office. Abuja has insisted its actions were undertaken at the request of Benin’s government and in line with the security protocols of the Economic Community of West African States.
The AES – comprising governments that have distanced themselves from ECOWAS in recent years, framed the unauthorised flight as a serious sovereignty violation. It remains unclear whether the incident will escalate diplomatically, but it adds to already strained relations within a region grappling with political upheaval, contested mandates, and shifting security alliances.
