Nigeria-Sahel rift deepens after Burkina Faso detains 11 airmen
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Burkina Faso detained 11 Nigerian Air Force personnel in December 2025 after their C-130 made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso. The aircraft and crew were released on December 17 following diplomatic talks. The incident underscores the widening political divide between Nigeria and the Alliance of Sahel States.
Key Facts
- Burkina Faso detained 11 Nigerian Air Force personnel after their C-130 made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso in December 2025.
- The aircraft and crew were released on December 17, 2025, and departed Burkina Faso two days later via Ghana.
- Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger formed the Alliance of Sahel States in September 2023 and withdrew from ECOWAS effective January 29, 2025.
- Niger withdrew from the Multinational Joint Task Force in March 2025, citing the need to secure its oil assets.
The Detention
In December 2025, Burkina Faso detained 11 Nigerian Air Force personnel after their C-130 transport aircraft made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso while travelling to Portugal for scheduled maintenance. Burkina Faso said the aircraft had entered its airspace without the required authorisation, while Nigerian officials said the landing followed a technical problem. The Nigerian Air Force said the precautionary landing was made in accordance with safety procedures. The aircraft and its 11-member crew were released following diplomatic talks on December 17. They departed Burkina Faso two days later, continuing their journey to Portugal via Ghana.
Regional Divide
The incident underscored the widening political divide between Nigeria and the three Sahelian countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. The three countries formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in September 2023 through the Liptako-Gourma Charter, establishing a framework for collective defence and mutual assistance. They later withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the regional bloc created to promote economic integration and cooperation in West Africa. Their withdrawal became effective on January 29, 2025.
Security Threats
Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) remain active in Nigeria, while ISWAP also operates in southeastern Niger, particularly in the Diffa region. Niger withdrew from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in March 2025, the regional force created to fight armed groups around the Lake Chad Basin. Niger’s government said the move was aimed at strengthening security around its oil assets. Abiola Sadiq, a Nigerian resilience adviser, told Al Jazeera that Niger’s withdrawal had created a significant gap in regional counterterrorism cooperation and cross-border coordination.
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Nigeria-Sahel rift deepens after Burkina Faso detains 11 airmen
