By Charles Pemu 
The Alliance of Sahel States (AES), comprising the military-led nations of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, issued a strongly worded joint statement on Monday, condemning the emergency landing of a Nigerian military aircraft in Burkina Faso and warning of severe consequences for future airspace violations.
The AES statement, simultaneously broadcast on state media across the three West African countries, confirmed that a Nigerian Air Force C-130 turboprop aircraft, carrying 11 military personnel, was forced to land in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. The landing was attributed to an “in-flight emergency situation” while the aircraft was operating in Burkinabe airspace.
The Alliance emphasized that the Nigerian plane did not possess prior authorization to fly over Burkina Faso. The joint statement explicitly branded the emergency landing an “unfriendly act” and a breach of their collective sovereignty.
In response, the AES announced that the respective air forces of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have been placed on maximum alert. Furthermore, commanders were given explicit authorization to “neutralize any aircraft” found to violate the confederation’s airspace. The statement provided no details regarding the immediate status or condition of the 11 military personnel who were onboard the Nigerian turboprop plane.
The three AES member states—all grappling with long-running jihadist insurgencies under military regimes—have recently distanced themselves from the West and their West African neighbours. They formally exited the regional bloc ECOWAS in January and have been actively forging closer strategic and military ties with Russia. The incident highlights the growing diplomatic and security friction between the AES and other ECOWAS member states, including Nigeria.