Burkina Faso’s military government has accused Nigeria of violating its airspace after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft carrying 11 soldiers reportedly entered the country without clearance.
In a statement issued by junta leader Assimi Goita, the authorities said the NAF plane made an unscheduled landing in Bobo Dioulasso on Monday due to what was described as an “emergency situation in flight” while inside Burkinabe airspace.
According to the statement, investigators later determined that the aircraft “lacked authorisation to fly over Burkinabe territory,” prompting a strong reaction from the junta.
“The Confederation of the Sahel States most strongly condemns this violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member states,” the government said.
It added that the incident was considered “an unfriendly act carried out in defiance of international law and international civil and/or military aviation rules,” and announced enhanced security measures to protect the region’s skies. The junta said arrangements were being put in place to safeguard “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its Member States, as well as the safety of the Populations of the Confederation AES.”
It further warned that, following directives from leaders of the confederation, air defence systems were now on heightened alert. These systems, it said, are authorised “to neutralise any aircraft that would violate the confederal space.”
The development comes a day after the Nigerian Air Force conducted airstrikes against suspects involved in the failed coup attempt in Benin Republic.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said President Bola Tinubu approved the operation after receiving a request for support from Beninese authorities, who also sought the deployment of Nigerian ground forces.
Reports indicated that NAF jets carried out sustained bombardments for more than 30 minutes within Beninese airspace. Onanuga added that Benin also asked Nigeria to position air assets for “surveillance and rapid intervention operations” under local coordination.
What remains unclear is whether NAF aircraft involved in the operation inadvertently crossed into Burkina Faso, which borders Benin to the northwest.
Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali—now operating jointly as the Confederation of Sahel States (AES)—withdrew from ECOWAS earlier this year after prolonged disagreements with the bloc.
Following the failed coup in Benin, ECOWAS mobilised elements of its standby force to support the country’s authorities.
Local reports suggest the 11 Nigerian personnel are currently being held by Burkinabe officials.
Goita said the AES has taken steps to defend its territorial integrity in light of the incident.
