Burkina Faso detains 11 Nigerian Soldiers, places air defence on high alert

…accuses Nigerian Air Force C-130 of entering country without clearance

Burkina Faso’s military authorities have confirmed the detention of 11 Nigerian military personnel following the emergency landing of a Nigerian Air Force C-130 transport aircraft in Bobo-Dioulasso on Monday.

The incident was disclosed in a statement released late Monday by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a bloc made up of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, all of which are currently under military rule.

According to the statement, Burkinabe investigators established that the Nigerian aircraft had no clearance to fly over the country.

The AES said: “An investigation was immediately opened by the competent Burkinabe authorities and revealed the absence of authorisation for the aircraft to fly over Burkinabe territory. The Confederation of the Sahel States strongly condemns this violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member states.”

The military grouping described the development as an “unfriendly act” carried out in disregard for international aviation rules. It added that the confederation had taken measures to secure its territory and safeguard its population.

The statement continued: “Faced with this act carried out in disregard of international law and civil or military aviation regulations, measures have been taken to guarantee the security of the confederal airspace, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its member states.”

In response to the incident, the AES announced that air defence systems across the three countries had been placed on maximum alert, with full authorisation to take down any aircraft deemed to have violated the confederation’s airspace.

It added: “Upon the instruction of the Heads of State, air defence and anti-aircraft systems have been placed on maximum alert, in accordance with the declaration of 22 December 2024, and have been authorised to neutralise any aircraft that violates the confederal airspace.”