 accused the Nigerian Air Force of){kind=link}
Mounting diplomatic tension has emerged after the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) accused the Nigerian Air Force of breaching Burkina Faso’s airspace amid the ongoing fallout from the foiled coup attempt in Benin Republic.
Officials of the military-led bloc alleged that a Nigerian aircraft carrying troops entered Burkina Faso without clearance, raising concerns over territorial sovereignty and regional military operations.
AES, which comprises Burkina Faso, Mali, and the Niger Republic, disclosed that the aircraft, reportedly transporting eleven Nigerian soldiers, was compelled to land in Bobo Dioulasso after an unexpected in-flight emergency, as described by the authorities.
The bloc insisted that subsequent investigations revealed the flight did not have the required authorisation to operate above Burkinabe territory, branding the development a “clear infringement”.
In a statement issued by Assimi Goïta, the Malian leader who currently speaks for the confederation, AES emphasised its displeasure with the incident, stating that it constituted a disregard for international protocols governing both civil and military aviation.
According to the communique, measures are underway to reinforce control and security over airspace within member nations following what it termed an “unfriendly act”.
AFRIPOST reports that the airspace incident occurred shortly after Nigeria executed targeted air strikes against alleged fleeing plotters of the foiled coup in the Benin Republic, a mission authorised, according to presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, at the formal request of Beninese authorities.
However, questions have since surfaced about whether the Nigerian military operation inadvertently extended beyond Benin’s borders.
A retired defence strategist, Kabiru Adegoke, described the emerging dispute as “a diplomatic ripple waiting to grow,” adding that West Africa must “balance counter-coup responses with respect for territorial boundaries to avoid escalating mistrust among neighbours.”
The Sahel region has witnessed shifting alliances since Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger exited ECOWAS earlier this year after military takeovers strained relations with the regional body.
The formation of AES symbolised a realignment of power in the sub-region, particularly as the bloc seeks to assert more autonomy from traditional West African frameworks.
Amid lingering anxieties following Benin’s failed coup, ECOWAS announced plans to deploy elements of its standby force to safeguard stability and civilian governance.
Nonetheless, AES maintains that security measures must not undermine the sovereignty of states that have chosen alternative political pathways.
Regional observers suggest the airspace dispute may ignite a broader conversation on joint security operations, communication channels, and the emerging reality of a divided West Africa, where coups, alliances, and shifting borders continue to reshape the map of power in real time.
As nations recalibrate their positions, the event shows a fragile moment for the region, one where the skies are as politically contested as the ground beneath