Burkina Faso has grounded a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft after accusing it of entering the country’s airspace without authorisation.
The incident was disclosed by the Agence d’Information du Burkina, which published a statement issued by the Confederation of Sahel States on Monday evening.
According to the translated statement, the aircraft was forced to land in Bobo-Dioulasso on December 8, 2025, after what was described as an in-flight emergency while operating in Burkinabe airspace.
The AES explained that the aircraft had two crew members and nine passengers, all identified as Nigerian military personnel.
The AES said, “An investigation was immediately opened by the competent Burkinabe authorities and revealed the absence of authorization 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.
“Faced with this unfriendly act carried out in disregard of international law and international civil and/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, as well as the safety of the populations of the AES Confederation.
“In this regard, and upon the instruction of the Heads of State, air defense and anti-aircraft systems of the confederal space have been placed on maximum alert, in accordance with the Declaration of the College of Heads of State dated 22 December 2024, and have been authorized to neutralize any aircraft that violates the confederal airspace.”
Burkinabe authorities said a preliminary investigation indicated that the plane did not have permission to fly over the country.
The AES described the development as a violation of the sovereignty of its member states and announced that its air and anti-aircraft defence systems had been placed on maximum alert.
The bloc issued a warning that its defences were authorised to neutralise any aircraft that “would violate the Confederate space,” signalling rising tensions between the alliance and neighbouring governments.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Nigerian Air Force nor the federal government had released an official reaction to the incident.
