NAF C-130 Forced to Land in Burkina Faso as Sahel Confederation Condemns “Airspace Violation”

December 9, 2025
By Ayinde Adeleke

A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing on Monday, December 8, 2025, in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, after experiencing what authorities described as an “in-flight emergency situation” while flying through Burkinabe airspace.

According to official information, the military transport aircraft was carrying 11 personnel—2 crew members and 9 passengers, all of whom are Nigerian military officers. No casualties were reported.

Burkina Faso’s relevant security and aviation services immediately opened an investigation following the landing. Preliminary findings, according to their report, indicated that the Nigerian aircraft did not possess authorization to fly over Burkinabe airspace at the time of the incident.

In response, the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) comprising Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger issued a strongly worded communique condemning what it described as a “serious violation” of the confederation’s airspace and sovereignty.

The AES stated that the unauthorized overflight constituted an “inimical act carried out in contempt of international law and international rules of civil and/or military aviation.”

General Assimi Goïta, President of the Confederation, emphasized that decisive measures were now in effect to protect the region’s territorial integrity. He announced that, following directives from the College of Heads of State:

“The air and anti-aircraft defenses of the confederal space, placed on maximum alert in accordance with the Declaration of December 22, 2024, have been authorized to neutralize any aircraft that violates the confederal airspace.”

The incident has heightened regional tensions at a time of already fragile security relations across West Africa. The Nigerian government has yet to issue a formal public response regarding the emergency landing or the allegations of unauthorized airspace entry.

The aircraft’s emergency landing occurred yesterday, December 8, 2025.