Nigeria Issues Apology to Burkina Faso Following Military Jet Incident

Fri Dec 19 2025 03:28:43 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Nigeria's Foreign Minister has apologized to Burkina Faso for the unauthorized entry of a military jet that led to the detention of 11 servicemen. The incident highlights ongoing tensions and the need for discussions in regional security.

In a recent diplomatic move, Nigeria's Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar issued an apology to Burkina Faso regarding the unauthorized entry of a Nigerian military aircraft that resulted in the detention of 11 servicemen. The aircraft, experiencing technical difficulties, landed without permission, prompting a diplomatic spat with Burkina Faso and its regional partners. The situation emphasizes the importance of clear communication and operations in maintaining regional stability as both nations commit to enhancing bilateral cooperation moving forward.

Nigeria's Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar has formally apologized to Burkina Faso for the unauthorized entry of a Nigerian military jet into Burkinabè airspace, an incident that led to the detention of 11 Nigerian servicemen.

Tuggar's spokesperson told the BBC that the detained personnel had been released and were due to return to Nigeria, without saying when.

The plane was flying to Portugal when it developed a technical problem and had to land in Burkina Faso, according to the Nigerian Air Force.

The unauthorized landing sparked a diplomatic row with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) made up of Burkina Faso and its neighbors, Mali, and Niger.

In a statement, the AES characterized it as an unfriendly act and stated that member states’ air forces had been put on maximum alert and authorized to neutralize any aircraft found to violate the confederation's airspace.

The three AES states, all led by military regimes, have withdrawn from the West African regional bloc ECOWAS and moved closer to Russia, while most ECOWAS members remain allied with the West.

Tuggar led a delegation to the Burkinabè capital, Ouagadougou, on Wednesday to discuss the incident with military leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

There were irregularities concerning the overflight authorizations, which was regrettable, and we apologize for this unfortunate incident, Tuggar said on national TV.

It remains unclear when the military personnel, reported to be in high spirits, and the aircraft will return to Nigeria.

According to Nigeria's foreign ministry, both sides agreed to sustain regular consultations and pursue practical measures to deepen bilateral cooperation and regional integration.