Nigerian Military Plane, Soldiers Remain Detained in Burkina Faso Amid Airspace Dispute
One week after an unexpected landing, a Nigerian military aircraft and its crew of 11 soldiers are still being held in Burkina Faso, escalating a diplomatic disagreement over airspace permissions.
The aircraft, en route to Portugal for scheduled maintenance, landed in the city of Bobo Dioulasso last Monday. The Nigerian Air Force cited a “technical fault” as the reason for the unscheduled stop.
However, authorities in Burkina Faso, acting in coordination with the Confederation of Sahel States (AES)—a bloc including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—have presented a conflicting narrative. They accuse the Nigerian crew of entering Burkinabè airspace without prior clearance, a serious allegation in a region grappling with instability and political tensions.
Nigerian officials have disputed this claim. The country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed the ongoing detention and stated that Nigeria is actively engaging with the relevant authorities in Burkina Faso to secure the release of both the personnel and the aircraft.
The incident highlights the increasingly complex political landscape in West Africa. The AES nations, all ruled by military juntas that have distanced themselves from traditional regional allies and Western partners, have strengthened mutual defence pacts. The detention underscores the sensitive nature of military movements within and across their borders.
As diplomatic talks continue, the status of the 11 soldiers and the aircraft remains unresolved, with no public timeline provided for their release. The plane’s original mission—routine maintenance in Portugal—now sits secondary to the diplomatic efforts required to resolve the standoff.
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