Burkina Faso-Nigeria Meeting: Nigeria Issues Official Apology for Airspace Incident

Ouagadougou, December 17, 2025 - President Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso met with Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar on Wednesday, during the latter’s official visit to Ouagadougou.

Minister Tuggar conveyed a message of solidarity and fraternity from Nigerian President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and addressed an incident in which a Nigerian military C-130 transport plane landed in Burkina Faso on December 8, 2025, without overflight authorization. Nigeria acknowledged procedural irregularities and issued a formal apology for the violation of Burkinabe airspace.

The Nigerian Foreign Minister also distanced his government from remarks by a Nigerian political figure alleging mistreatment of Nigerian soldiers in Burkina Faso and reiterated his country’s sincere apologies.

The discussions further focused on bilateral cooperation and regional security, with Minister Tuggar commending Burkina Faso’s efforts to ensure the safety of the aircraft occupants and praising the country’s ongoing fight against terrorism.

Burkina Faso emphasized the importance of strengthened regional collaboration to address common security threats. The Confederation of Sahel States condemned the airspace violation and reaffirmed that its air defenses remain on high alert to protect sovereignty and territorial integrity.