Nigeria has formally apologised to Burkina Faso following the unexpected and unauthorized landing of a Nigerian military aircraft in Burkinabè airspace, an incident that led to the temporary detention of 11 Nigerian servicemen.
The country’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, confirmed the apology in a statement to the BBC, noting that the detained personnel had since been released and were expected to return to Nigeria, though no exact date was provided. The incident occurred when the aircraft, en route to Portugal, experienced a technical issue, forcing an emergency landing in Burkina Faso, according to the Nigerian Air Force.
The unauthorized landing sparked a diplomatic tension with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which includes Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. AES described the occurrence as an “unfriendly act” and raised the alert status of the air forces within the member states, authorizing them to “neutralize any aircraft” violating their airspace. This response highlights the fragile security dynamics in the Sahel region, where military-led governments have increasingly aligned themselves closer to Russia, in contrast to most West African nations maintaining alliances with the West.
Minister Tuggar led a high-level delegation to Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, to meet with the country’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. Speaking on national television, Tuggar acknowledged that there had been “irregularities concerning the overflight authorisations,” describing the situation as regrettable and reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to diplomatic protocol.
While the exact timeline for the return of the servicemen and the aircraft remains unclear, sources indicate that the personnel are in “high spirits.” Both nations have agreed to maintain regular consultations and implement practical measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation and advance regional integration.
This incident underscores the delicate nature of military and diplomatic operations in West Africa, particularly in regions with shifting alliances and heightened geopolitical sensitivities. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of clear communication and adherence to international flight protocols to prevent diplomatic escalations.