Burkina Faso Captures Nigerian Aircraft, Alleges Territorial Violation

Joshua ChuwangDecember 9, 20251 Mins read780

Burkina Faso has detained a Nigerian Armed Forces (NAF) aircraft for violating its airspace, according to reports.

In a statement signed by the Burkinabe government junta leader, Assimi Goita, the Nigerian aircraft was grounded on Monday in Bobo Dioulasso for operating within the country’s airspace.

An investigation was immediately opened by the competent Burkinabe services and highlighted the lack of authorisation to fly over Burkinabe territory for this military apparatus, the statement reads.

The nation, which had abandoned the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to form a bloc called the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) alongside the Niger Republic and Mali, claimed that the Nigerian aircraft was suspicious and had trespassed into its territorial waters.

The Confederation of the Sahel States most strongly condemns this violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member states, the statement added.

Faced with this unfriendly act carried out in defiance of international law and international civil and/or military aviation rules, arrangements are being made to guarantee the security of the Confederation’s airspace, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its Member States, as well as the safety of the populations of the Confederation.

In this regard, and on the instructions of the Heads of State, the air and anti-aircraft defences of the Confederal space have been put on maximum alert, in accordance with the Declaration of the College of Heads of State dated December 22, 2024. They are authorised to neutralise any aircraft that would violate the confederal space.

AES STATEMENT ON VIOLATION OF AIRSPACE BY NIGERIA

Recall that Nigeria acted in response to the foiled coup in the Benin Republic to overturn the civilian government in the West African country. The Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, asserted that Benin requested that Nigeria come in with “surveillance and rapid intervention operations.

However, the Burkinabe government believes this could be an intended diplomatic intervention by the Nigerian government, which is said to have been influenced by France.

Assimi Goita’s government seized the Nigerian aircraft for reportedly entering Burkinabe airspace without authorisation.