Nigeria dispatched top envoys to Ouagadougou on December 17, 2025, to negotiate the release of its Air Force personnel held by Burkina Faso authorities after an unauthorized drone incursion into their airspace sparked a tense diplomatic row between the West African neighbors. The high-level team, led by senior Foreign Affairs Ministry officials, aims to de-escalate the crisis stemming from the Nigerian military aircraft's alleged violation during a routine border patrol mission that veered into Burkinabé territory amid ongoing jihadist threats in the Sahel.
The detention of the crew whose craft was reportedly forced down has ignited outrage in Abuja, with Defence Headquarters clarifying the incident as a navigational mishap exacerbated by poor weather and communication blackouts, denying any espionage intent while emphasizing ECOWAS protocols for joint counter-terror ops. Burkina Faso's military junta, under Captain Ibrahim Traoré, accused Nigeria of sovereignty breach, heightening frictions since their 2024 Alliance of Sahel States alignment distanced them from regional bodies.
As talks unfold, analysts warn of spillover risks to Lake Chad security, urging swift resolution to preserve bilateral intelligence-sharing vital against Boko Haram and ISWAP advances. Nigeria's proactive shuttle diplomacy underscores President Tinubu's push for African solutions amid fragile Sahel stability.