Nigeria has formally apologised to Burkina Faso following the unauthorised entry of a Nigerian military aircraft into Burkinabè airspace, an incident that resulted in the temporary detention of 11 Nigerian servicemen.
Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, issued the apology during a diplomatic visit to Ouagadougou, where he met Burkina Faso’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. Tuggar acknowledged that procedural lapses occurred in securing proper overflight clearance, describing the situation as regrettable.
A spokesperson for Nigeria’s foreign ministry confirmed that the detained personnel have since been released and are expected to return home, although no timeline has been disclosed. The Nigerian Air Force explained that the aircraft, which was en route to Portugal, was forced to land in Burkina Faso after developing a technical fault.
The incident triggered sharp reactions from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a bloc comprising Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. In a strongly worded statement, the alliance described the unauthorised landing as an “unfriendly act” and said its member states had placed their air forces on high alert, authorising them to intercept or neutralise any aircraft violating their airspace.
The AES countries, all governed by military administrations, have withdrawn from the West African regional bloc ECOWAS and strengthened ties with Russia, deepening political divisions within the region as most ECOWAS members maintain alliances with Western partners.
Following talks in Ouagadougou, Nigeria’s foreign ministry said both countries agreed to maintain regular diplomatic engagement and work toward strengthening bilateral relations and regional cooperation.
Despite the resolution, uncertainty remains over when the aircraft involved will be cleared to leave Burkina Faso. Officials said the Nigerian servicemen were in good spirits as arrangements were being made for their return.