Burkina Faso Detains 11 Nigerian Troops After C-130 Emergency Landing Amid AES Airspace Dispute
Eleven Nigerian military personnel have been detained in Bobo-Dioulasso, southwest Burkina Faso, after their aircraft reportedly made an emergency landing while allegedly breaching the airspace of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). According to information obtained by PulseNets, Burkinabe authorities placed the troops under custody shortly after the C-130 transport aircraft touched down on Friday.
The AES military coalition alleged that the Nigerian Air Force aircraft entered Burkinabe airspace without prior authorization, prompting heightened military response measures. A statement issued by the bloc — which PulseNets learnt was circulated across member states earlier today — warned that any aircraft violating AES-controlled airspace would be treated as a hostile target.
Burkinabe authorities opened a formal inquiry into the incident. Investigators, according to defense sources who told PulseNets, concluded that “the aircraft had no authorization to fly over Burkinabe territory.” The AES leadership described the incident as a direct affront to the sovereignty of its member states.
In the statement, the confederation declared:
“The Confederation of the Sahel States strongly condemns this violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member states.”
It further criticized the landing as an act that disregarded international aviation protocols.
“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.”
PulseNets learnt that the AES Heads of State also ordered all air-defense and anti-aircraft systems across the confederal zone to be placed on maximum alert. The statement emphasized that these systems now have pre-authorized clearance to engage any unauthorized aircraft.
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“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… and have been authorized to neutralize any aircraft that violates the confederal airspace.”
Diplomatic channels between Abuja and Ouagadougou are expected to intensify in the coming hours as Nigeria seeks clarification and the safe return of its detained personnel.
