The Nigerian government has initiated high-level diplomatic intervention after Burkina Faso refused to release a Nigerian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft and its 11 military personnel. The standoff began when the aircraft made an unscheduled landing in the city of Bobo Dioulasso earlier in the week, leading to its seizure by Burkinabe authorities.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is actively engaging with Burkina Faso through official channels to secure the release of the soldiers and the aircraft. A ministry spokesperson stated that earlier reports of their release were false, clarifying that negotiations are ongoing but the individuals and plane remain detained.
The spokesperson assured that all diplomatic avenues are being explored to resolve the situation.
The Nigerian Air Force has maintained that the landing was a necessary precautionary measure. Officials explained that the aircraft experienced a technical issue during a ferry flight to Portugal, compelling the crew to divert to the nearest suitable airfield in Burkina Faso for safety reasons, in full compliance with international aviation protocols. The NAF emphasized that its personnel are safe and have been treated cordially by their hosts.
Burkina Faso, however, has framed the incident differently. As a member of the Confederation of Sahel States—an alliance that includes Mali and Niger—the country alleges the Nigerian aircraft entered its airspace without prior authorization.
The AES has labeled the event a violation of national sovereignty. Regional sources suggest the bloc may be using the situation to apply political pressure on Nigeria, stemming from past tensions related to regional sanctions imposed following military coups in the Sahel states.
This incident highlights the fragile and complex diplomatic relations in West Africa, particularly between Nigeria, a traditional regional leader and key member of ECOWAS, and the new AES alliance of juntas that have withdrawn from the broader bloc. The outcome of these diplomatic efforts will be closely watched as a test of regional statecraft and conflict resolution.
