Burkina Faso has released a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 aircraft and its 11 crew members, ending a two-week diplomatic impasse triggered by a precautionary landing in the West African country.
The aircraft, which was on a ferry mission to Portugal, had made a force landing in Bobo-Dioulasso after developing technical faults. The Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the crew acted in line with international aviation safety protocols by landing at the nearest available airfield.
However, the incident attracted sharp reactions from the Confederation of Sahel States (CSS), comprising Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Speaking on behalf of the bloc, Mali’s junta leader, Assimi Goïta, described the landing as an “unfriendly act” allegedly carried out in defiance of international law, warning that CSS members would “neutralise” any aircraft deemed to have violated their airspace.
Nigeria subsequently engaged in high-level diplomatic efforts to resolve the matter. The breakthrough came after a delegation of the Nigerian government, led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, met with Burkina Faso’s junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, in Ouagadougou at the instance of President Bola Tinubu.
Confirming the development on Wednesday night, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the aircraft and all 11 personnel had been released.
“Yes, they have been released,” Ebienfa said, bringing the episode to a close.
