In a significant diplomatic development, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar has issued a formal apology to Burkina Faso following the unauthorized incursion of a Nigerian military aircraft into Burkinabè airspace. The incident, which resulted in the detention of eleven Nigerian servicemen, has been resolved with their subsequent release and anticipated return to Nigeria.
According to official statements from the Nigerian Air Force, the aircraft experienced technical difficulties while en route to Portugal, necessitating an emergency landing in Burkina Faso. This unauthorized landing triggered a serious diplomatic confrontation with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a regional coalition comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
The AES leadership characterized the incident as an ‘unfriendly act’ and responded by elevating their defense readiness. Member states’ air forces were placed on maximum alert and authorized to ‘neutralize any aircraft’ violating the confederation’s airspace—a strong indication of the regional tensions.
Minister Tuggar led a high-level delegation to Ouagadougou on Wednesday for crisis talks with Burkinabè military leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré. During a joint appearance on national television, Tuggar acknowledged administrative failures regarding flight authorizations and expressed regret for the incident.
The diplomatic resolution comes against a complex geopolitical backdrop. The three AES states, all under military governance, have recently withdrawn from the West African regional bloc ECOWAS and have strengthened ties with Russia, while most ECOWAS members maintain alliances with Western nations.
Both nations have agreed to maintain regular consultations and implement practical measures to enhance bilateral cooperation and regional integration, according to Nigeria’s foreign ministry. The detained personnel, described as being in ‘high spirits,’ await their return alongside the aircraft, though specific timing remains undisclosed.