Burkina Faso has grounded a Nigerian Air Force C-130 transport aircraft after authorities in Ouagadougou said it entered the country’s airspace without authorization.
According to Burkina Faso’s government, the plane was forced to land on Monday in the southwestern city of Bobo-Dioulasso.
On board were 11 Nigerian military personnel — two crew members and nine other soldiers.
Officials say an investigation was immediately opened, and preliminary findings indicate the aircraft did not possess the required clearance to fly over Burkinabe territory.
The Confederation of Sahel States (AES) — the regional alliance comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — condemned the incident, describing it as a violation of sovereignty and international aviation protocol.
AES said its air defense systems have been placed on heightened alert and warned that any future unauthorized flights could prompt a firm response.
As of now, neither the Nigerian Air Force nor the Nigerian government has issued an official statement regarding the incident.
The grounding adds fresh tension to relations between Nigeria and the military-ruled Sahel states amid wider regional security and diplomatic shifts.
