The Confederation of Sahel States (AES) claims an aircraft carrying 11 Nigerian soldiers breached Burkina Faso airspace.
Burkina Faso, Mali, and the Niger Republic form a separatist West African regional union known as the AES.
In a statement signed by Mali’s junta chairman, Assimi Goita, AES stated an aircraft belonging to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) was forced to land in Bobo Dioulasso on Monday due to a “emergency situation in flight” while flying in the country’s airspace.
Mali’s minister of security and civil protection, Daoud Aly Mohamedine, delivered the announcement in a live broadcast.
“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,” the statement reads.
“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.
“In this regard, and on the instructions of the Heads of State, the Arian and anti-aircraft defences of the Confederal space put on maximum alert, in accordance with the Declaration of the College of Heads of State dated December 22, 2024, were authorised to neutralise any aircraft that would violate the confederal space.”
The NAF had on Sunday, launched air attacks against the fleeing plotters of a failed coup in Benin Republic.
According to presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu responded to Benin authorities’ demands.
It is uncertain if the mission extended to Burkina Faso, which is northwest of Benin Republic.
Burkina Faso, Mali, and the Niger Republic formally left the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in January, following military coups and subsequent suspensions from the organisation.
The trio eventually founded the AES after regional leaders’ efforts to reintegrate the states into ECOWAS were unsuccessful.
Following Benin’s failed coup, the ECOWAS commission directed the deployment of members of its standby force to the West African country after consulting with heads of state and government.
