Burkina Faso Frees Nigerian Air Force Personnel Held Following Emergency Landing

Burkina Faso has released 11 Nigerian Air Force personnel who were detained following an emergency landing on December 8, 2025. The crew, consisting of two flight members and nine passengers, was en route to Portugal for scheduled maintenance when they made an unscheduled landing in western Burkina Faso.

Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, announced the release, crediting diplomatic efforts and discussions with Burkina Faso’s military leadership, led by Ibrahim Traoré. Tuggar highlighted the importance of sustained dialogue in resolving sensitive situations, particularly amidst heightened regional tensions.

The emergency landing coincided with increased alertness among the Alliance of Sahel States Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger due to concerns over airspace violations. The situation was further complicated by Nigeria’s recent military intervention in Benin to reverse a coup, creating additional strain in regional relations since Burkina Faso shares a border with Benin to the northwest.

Despite these tensions, Burkina Faso and Nigeria have agreed to enhance diplomatic consultations and foster stronger bilateral ties moving forward. The incident also underscores the Sahel alliance’s divergence from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has been accused of imposing punitive sanctions related to coups in the region.

Now that the Nigerian Air Force personnel have been cleared, their aircraft is set to continue to Portugal for the anticipated maintenance. The resolution of this incident demonstrates the potential for diplomatic dialogue in mitigating regional disputes.