Tensions in West Africa escalated sharply this morning after a Nigerian C-130 military aircraft reportedly violated the airspace of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Burkinabè fighter jets intercepted the transport plane and compelled it to land at Bobo-Dioulasso Airport in Burkina Faso.
The dramatic incident was confirmed moments later on ORTM, the Malian state broadcaster, triggering swift and severe reactions across the AES bloc.
In a decisive move, Colonel Assimi Goïta—President of the AES Confederation—issued a fresh directive authorizing the immediate destruction of any aircraft that enters AES airspace without prior approval. The order, described by officials as a “non-negotiable security measure,” signals the most forceful posture yet from the military-led governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
Diplomats say the move underscores mounting friction between AES countries and Nigeria, alongside the wider ECOWAS bloc, following months of political and security disputes.
Analysts warn that today’s confrontation marks a significant escalation, raising concerns over potential military miscalculations in an already volatile region.
For now, the fate of the Nigerian aircraft and its crew remains unclear, but one message from the AES leadership is unmistakable:
Airspace violations will no longer be tolerated.
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