The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) led by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger has given insight into why it detained a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Transport aircraft alongside its two pilots and other nine soldiers, accusing the aircraft of breaching airspace rules.
AES said it forced the aircraft “to land today, 08 December 2025, in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, following an in-flight emergency while operating in Burkinabe airspace.”
The AES also ordered its anti-aircraft defenses to maintain maximum alert across the member-States.
AES President General Assimi Goïta, in their joint statement condemned the aircraft’s overflying of its airspace as sovereignty violation, warning that it would “neutralize” all such future unauthorized flights.
This crisis comes amid ongoing regional strains following AES nations’ exit from ECOWAS last year and Nigeria’s recent military interventions in Benin Republic on December 7, 2025 to support its government as soldiers attempted to overthrow its government.
The full English translation of the statement by AES reads: “The Confederation of Sahel States informs the public that an aircraft belonging to the Nigerian Federal Republic Air Force, type C-130, was forced to land today, 08 December 2025, in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, following an in-flight emergency while operating in Burkinabe airspace.
“The military aircraft was carrying two (02) crew members and nine (09) passengers, all military personnel. An investigation was immediately opened by the competent Burkinabe authorities and revealed that this military aircraft had no authorization to overfly Burkinabe territory.
“The Confederation of Sahel States condemns in the strongest possible terms this violation of its airspace and of the sovereignty of its member states.
“In response to this unfriendly act committed in disregard of international law and the international rules of civil and/or military aviation, measures have been taken to ensure the security of the confederal airspace, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its member states, as well as the safety of the populations of the AES Confederation.
“To that end, and on the instructions of the Heads of State, the air and anti-aircraft defences of the confederal airspace, placed on maximum alert in accordance with the Declaration of the College of Heads of State dated 22 December 2024, have been authorised to neutralise any aircraft that violates confederal airspace.”
