Breakaway ECOWAS Members Bloc Detains 11 Nigerian Soldiers In Burkina Faso

At least 11 Nigerian soldiers were being detained in Burkina Faso, one of the three West African nations that recently broke away from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to form a rival bloc, on their way to Portugal, LEADERSHIP gathered on Tuesday.

Burkina Faso, along with Mali and Niger, formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) after being suspended from ECOWAS due to military takeovers in their respective countries.

Diplomatic tensions have since deepened after the AES late Monday accused Nigeria of violating its airspace and sovereignty, announcing that it had intercepted and grounded a Nigerian Air Force aircraft that entered its territory without authorisation.

According to a statement released by the Confederation of Sahel States as the AES now styles itself, the C130 military aircraft was “forced to land” in the southwestern Burkinabe city of Bobo-Dioulasso on December 8, 2025.

“The Confederation of Sahel States informs the public that a C130 aircraft belonging to the Air Force of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was forced to land today, December 8, 2025, in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, following an in-flight emergency while operating in Burkinabe airspace,” the statement read.

“The military aircraft had two (2) crew members and nine (9) passengers on board, all military personnel.”

The AES said an investigation by Burkinabe authorities revealed the Nigerian plane lacked clearance to fly over its territory.

“An investigation was immediately opened by the competent Burkinabe services and highlighted the lack of authorisation to fly over Burkinabe territory for this military apparatus,” it added.

Describing the development as “a violation of sovereignty,” the AES vowed to protect its airspace from further incursions.

“The Confederation of the Sahel States most strongly condemns this violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member states.

“Faced with this unfriendly act carried out in defiance of international law and international civil and/or military aviation rules, arrangements are made to guarantee the security of the Confederal airspace, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its Member States, as well as the safety of the populations of the Confederation AES,” it stated.

The alliance further disclosed that its air and anti-aircraft defences had been placed on maximum alert, warning that any unauthorised aircraft entering its territory “would be neutralised.”

“On the instructions of the Heads of State… the air and anti-aircraft defences of the confederal space were authorised to neutralise any aircraft that would violate the confederal space,” the statement concluded.

It remained unclear whether the detained Nigerian soldiers were part of ECOWAS’s standby force dispatched to assist the Beninese government in restoring order after the failed coup attempt.

Diplomatic observers said the latest incident risks escalating regional tensions between ECOWAS and the AES—two blocs now divided along ideological and security lines.