After nine days of diplomatic negotiations led by Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, Burkina Faso has released a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft and its 11 crew members detained in Bobo-Dioulasso. The high-level talks included meetings with Burkina Faso’s military leadership, including junta leader President Ibrahim Traoré, and focused on de-escalation and confidence-building.
The Nigerian delegation, mandated by President Bola Tinubu and made up of senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence as well as NAF Headquarters, emphasized a peaceful and diplomatic resolution while reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to international aviation norms and regional cooperation.
Burkinabè authorities had detained the crew after the aircraft made an emergency landing without prior clearance, initially citing a violation of sovereignty. The successful negotiations highlight Nigeria’s preference for dialogue in addressing regional security challenges.
Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar officially apologised to Burkina Faso
Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, has issued a formal apology to Burkina Faso following the unauthorised entry of a Nigerian military aircraft into Burkinabè airspace—an incident that resulted in the detention of 11 Nigerian Air Force personnel.
Tuggar’s spokesperson confirmed that the detained servicemen have been released and are expected to return to Nigeria, though no timeline was provided.
According to the Nigerian Air Force, the aircraft was en route to Portugal when it experienced a technical fault, forcing an emergency landing in Burkina Faso. The incident triggered a diplomatic dispute with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
In a statement, the AES described the incident as an “unfriendly act” and announced that their air forces had been placed on maximum alert, with orders to “neutralise any aircraft” violating the confederation’s airspace.
All three AES member states, currently under military rule, have withdrawn from the West African bloc ECOWAS and have shifted closer to Russia, while most ECOWAS countries remain aligned with Western partners.
On Wednesday 17 December, Yusuf Tuggar led a delegation to Ouagadougou to meet with Burkina Faso’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, addressing the incident directly.
“There were irregularities concerning the overflight authorisations, which was regrettable, and we apologise for this unfortunate incident,” Tuggar said on national television.
The return date for both the released personnel—described as being in “high spirits”—and the aircraft remains unclear.
Nigeria’s foreign ministry stated that both countries have agreed to maintain regular dialogue and work on practical measures to strengthen bilateral ties and advance regional integration.
