Burkina Faso's military regime detained 11 Nigerian Air Force personnel two crew and nine passengers and impounded a C-130 cargo plane after forcing an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso on December 8, 2025, for unauthorized overflight.
The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger condemned the "unfriendly act" breaching sovereignty and aviation rules, launching probes amid no prior clearance. AES placed air defenses on maximum alert, authorizing neutralization of future violators per their December 2024 directive.
The incident escalates ECOWAS-AES tensions post-Sahel coups and withdrawal, with Nigeria yet to respond officially amid claims of routine transit or technical issues. Burkina authorities confirmed all aboard as Nigerian military, holding them pending investigation into the incursion. Regional airspace frictions intensify.