Burkina Faso Releases Nigerian Military Personnel After Unauthorised Emergency Landing
Burkina Faso has released 11 Nigerian military personnel — two crew members and nine passengers — who were held after a Lagos-origin cargo plane made an unauthorised emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso. The Nigerian personnel were allowed to return to Nigeria, while the status of the aircraft remains unclear.
The Association of Sahel States (AES) described the C-130 military aircraft's entry into Burkina Faso airspace without clearance as an unfriendly act. Meanwhile, the Nigerian air force explained that the landing was due to a technical concern during a ferry mission en route to Portugal and that the personnel were treated well. An investigation into the incident is ongoing, with plans to continue the mission.
The incident occurred shortly after Nigerian airstrikes targeted a military camp in Benin, where some personnel linked to a recent coup were reportedly hiding. Nigeria stated it acted according to ECOWAS protocols following a request from Benin after soldiers briefly seized the national broadcaster and announced the removal of President Patrice Talon.
Omar Touray, president of the ECOWAS Commission, highlighted the region's fragile democracies and security challenges, declaring a state of emergency and calling for introspection and increased investment in security.
The AES, which had split from ECOWAS in January citing concerns over ECOWAS interventions after coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger and its perceived alignment with Russia, remains a distinct regional actor.
