Why we are holding Nigerian military aircraft, 11 personnel — Burkina Faso

The Government of Burkina Faso has given a reason why it is holding a Nigerian military aircraft and 11 personnel aboard it.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 with 11 military personnel was forced to land in Burkina Faso on Monday following an emergency.

The incident was disclosed by the Agence d’Information du Burkina, the state-run news agency, which published a statement from the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) detailing the circumstances surrounding the interception.

The statement said: “The Confederation of Sahel States informs the public that a C130 aircraft belonging to the Air Force of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was forced to land today, December 8, 2025, in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, following an in-flight emergency while operating in Burkinabe airspace. 

“The military aircraft had two crew members and nine passengers on board, all military personnel.”

The AES said an investigation by Burkinabe authorities revealed that the aircraft did not obtain the required clearance to fly over the country.

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The probe, it said, “highlighted the absence of authorisation to fly over the territory of Burkina Faso for this military device”.

The regional bloc condemned the incident, describing it as a breach of the sovereignty of its member states.

The AES said it “condemns with the utmost firmness this violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member States”.

It said its air and anti-aircraft defence systems had been placed on maximum alert and authorised to neutralise any aircraft that violates AES-controlled airspace.

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