The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — comprising Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso — has condemned the emergency landing of a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft in Burkina Faso, accusing Nigeria of violating its airspace.
In a joint statement broadcast on state media, the alliance said the aircraft, carrying 11 Nigerian military personnel, entered Burkinabe airspace without authorisation before being forced to land in Bobo-Dioulasso on Monday due to an in-flight emergency.
The AES described the incident as an “unfriendly act” and warned that its air forces have now been placed on maximum alert, with orders to “neutralise any aircraft” that breaches the confederation’s airspace.
The statement did not clarify the condition or status of the 11 personnel aboard the Nigerian military plane.
Relations between the Sahelian military governments and neighbouring West African states have been tense since Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso withdrew from ECOWAS in January and formed their own alliance. The three countries, battling prolonged jihadist insurgencies, have turned away from traditional Western partners — especially France — and deepened ties with Russia.
