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Nigeria–Burkina Faso Diplomatic Tensions Ease as Tuggar Apologises Over Military Jet Airspace Violation, Detained Nigerian Servicemen Set for Release
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has formally apologised to the government of Burkina Faso following the unauthorised entry of a Nigerian military aircraft into Burkinabè airspace, an incident that triggered a diplomatic standoff and led to the detention of 11 Nigerian servicemen.
The apology came after days of heightened regional tension sparked by the aircraft’s unscheduled landing in Burkina Faso.
According to the Nigerian Air Force, the jet was en route to Portugal when it developed a technical fault, forcing the crew to make an emergency landing without the required overflight and landing clearances.
Tuggar’s spokesperson confirmed to the BBC that the detained Nigerian military personnel have since been released and are expected to return to Nigeria, although no specific timeline was provided.
The incident initially escalated into a broader diplomatic row involving the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a regional bloc comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. In a strongly worded statement, the AES described the unauthorised landing as an “unfriendly act”, warning that member states’ air forces had been placed on maximum alert and authorised to “neutralise any aircraft” found violating the confederation’s airspace.
The episode unfolded against the backdrop of strained relations between AES member states and the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas). The three Sahel countries, each currently under military rule have withdrawn from Ecowas and shifted their geopolitical alignment closer to Russia, while most Ecowas members, including Nigeria, continue to maintain strong ties with Western allies.
In a bid to de-escalate tensions and restore diplomatic confidence, Tuggar led a high-level Nigerian delegation to Ouagadougou on Wednesday, where he met with Burkina Faso’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, to discuss the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Addressing the matter on national television, the Nigerian foreign minister acknowledged procedural lapses, stating: “There were irregularities concerning the overflight authorisations, which was regrettable, and we apologise for this unfortunate incident.”
Despite confirmation that the detained servicemen are in “high spirits”, it remains unclear when both the personnel and the aircraft involved will return to Nigeria.
In a statement issued by Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to diplomacy, agreeing to “sustain regular consultations and pursue practical measures to deepen bilateral cooperation and regional integration.”
The resolution of the incident appears to signal a cooling of tensions and a renewed willingness on both sides to prioritise dialogue and cooperation amid an increasingly complex security and political landscape in the West African sub-region.