Nigeria apologises over Burkina Faso military flight that saw 11 servicemen detained

Nigeria Apologises Over Burkina Faso Military Flight Incident

Nigeria has formally apologised to Burkina Faso after a military aircraft carrying 11 servicemen made an unauthorised landing in Burkinabè territory, sparking a diplomatic row and leading to the temporary detention of the personnel.  

The incident unfolded on December 8, 2025, when a Nigerian Air Force plane en route to Portugal developed technical problems and was forced to land in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso’s second-largest city.

The aircraft carried two flight crew members and nine passengers, all of whom were detained by Burkinabè authorities upon arrival. The unauthorised entry into Burkina Faso’s airspace was immediately deemed a violation by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a confederation comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

The AES described the landing as an “unfriendly act” and announced that its air forces had been placed on maximum alert, with orders to neutralise any aircraft violating their airspace.  

Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, led a delegation to Burkina Faso to deliver an official apology on behalf of President Bola Tinubu. Tuggar emphasised that the landing was not intentional but necessitated by technical difficulties.

He assured Burkinabè authorities that Nigeria respected their sovereignty and regretted the incident. Following sustained diplomatic dialogue, Burkina Faso’s military regime under Captain Ibrahim Traoré released the detained servicemen, reaffirming the effectiveness of diplomacy in resolving sensitive disputes.  

The episode highlights the fragile state of regional relations in West Africa. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, each governed by military juntas, have withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and aligned themselves under the AES.

Their heightened sensitivity to perceived violations of sovereignty reflects broader tensions with neighbouring states and external actors. The AES’s strong reaction underscores its determination to assert control over its airspace and discourage any perceived encroachments.  

Nigeria’s apology and the subsequent release of its personnel mark a de-escalation of what could have become a more serious diplomatic crisis.

However, the incident illustrates the risks of miscommunication and technical mishaps in a region already fraught with political instability.

It also raises questions about the operational protocols of military flights in West Africa, particularly in light of shifting alliances and heightened security concerns.  

While the servicemen have been freed and are expected to return to Nigeria, the episode serves as a reminder of the delicate balance of diplomacy in the Sahel.

Nigeria’s swift apology helped avert further deterioration of relations, but the AES’s firm stance signals that future violations may not be met with the same level of restraint.

The incident stands as a cautionary tale about the importance of respecting airspace sovereignty in a region where political and military tensions remain high.