OUAGADOUGOU/ABUJA — Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar has formally apologised to Burkina Faso for the unauthorised entry of a Nigerian military jet into Burkinabè airspace, an incident that led to the detention of 11 Nigerian Air Force personnel earlier this month.
The servicemen, including two flight crew members and nine passengers, were released following talks between Tuggar’s delegation and Burkina Faso’s military leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré. Tuggar acknowledged “irregularities concerning the overflight authorisations” and described the incident as regrettable.
Background
The aircraft, en route to Portugal for scheduled maintenance, made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso after developing technical problems. The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — denounced the landing as an “unfriendly act” and placed their air forces on maximum alert, authorising the neutralisation of any aircraft violating their airspace.
Regional Context
The AES states, all under military rule, have withdrawn from ECOWAS and moved closer to Russia, while Nigeria and most ECOWAS members remain aligned with Western partners. The incident underscored the fractured relations between the blocs, particularly after Nigeria’s intervention in Benin’s failed coup earlier this month.
Diplomatic Outcome
Nigeria’s foreign ministry said both sides agreed to sustain regular consultations and pursue practical measures to deepen bilateral cooperation and regional integration. While the personnel are reported to be in “high spirits,” it remains unclear when they and the aircraft will return to Nigeria.