The Alliance of Sahel States informed the public that a C130 aircraft of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Air Force was forced to land in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, on December 8, 2025 due to an in-flight emergency while flying in the airspace of Burkina Faso.
The military aircraft had two (02) crew members and nine (09) passengers on board, all military personnel. Relevant authorities in Burkina Faso immediately launched an investigation and found that the military aircraft did not have authorization to fly over Burkina Faso territory. The Alliance of Sahel States strongly condemns this violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member states.
In response to this hostile act, which disregards international law and international civil and/or military aviation regulations, measures have been taken to ensure the security of the federal airspace, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its member states and the safety of the people of the AES Federation. In this regard, in accordance with the instructions of the Head of State, the air defense and anti-aircraft defense systems of the federal airspace have been put on the highest alert in accordance with the declaration of the Head of State Corps of December 22, 2024, and have been authorized to suppress any aircraft that violates the federal airspace.
