Nigeria issues formal apology to Burkina Faso over airspace violation
On Wed, Dec 17, 2025, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, visited Ouagadougou to issue an official apology following the unauthorized entry of a Nigerian military aircraft into the airspace of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
On Wed, Dec 17, 2025, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, visited Ouagadougou to issue an official apology following the unauthorized entry of a Nigerian military aircraft into the airspace of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Tuggar met with Burkina Faso’s President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, to express Nigeria's regret over the incident, previously condemned by AES member states.
The Nigerian foreign minister acknowledged irregularities in the flight authorization documents and expressed apologies for the occurrence. Tuggar communicated the situation's gravity and the steps taken to address it.
In addition, Tuggar addressed remarks made by a Nigerian political party leader regarding the incident, attributing them to a misunderstanding of the situation.
Tuggar met with Burkina Faso’s President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, to express Nigeria's regret over the incident, previously condemned by AES member states.
Emphasizing a message of "solidarity and brotherhood" from President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Tuggar commended Burkina Faso’s progress in counter-terrorism efforts. He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening collaboration between the two countries for enhanced regional security.
The discussions included strategies for combating terrorism and initiatives to foster cooperation in addressing security challenges in the region.
In addition to the apology, Nigeria acknowledged the Burkinabè authorities' cooperative approach concerning the aircraft’s occupants, who remain in Burkina Faso.
Based on reporting by Africanews.
