Name: Nigeria issues formal apology to Burkina Faso over airspace violation
Uploaded: 2025-12-18T18:53:53.102Z
Duration: 1 min 37 s
Description: Nigeria’s foreign minister, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, travelled to Ouagadougou to deliver an official apology after a Nigerian military aircraft violated the airspace of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

Nigeria’s foreign minister, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, travelled to Ouagadougou to deliver an official apology after a Nigerian military aircraft violated the airspace of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

Ouagadougou

Nigeria has formally apologized to Burkina Faso following the unauthorized entry of a Nigerian military aircraft into the airspace of the Alliance of Sahel States. Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tugar delivered the apology in person to Captain Ibrahim Traore in Ouagadougou, acknowledging irregularities in flight authorization documents and expressing regret for the incident.

The meeting also addressed comments made by a Nigerian political party leader regarding the event, which were attributed to misunderstanding. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to regional security cooperation, and Nigeria commended Burkina Faso for its treatment of the aircraft's occupants, who remain in Burkina Faso but have been released.

Nigeria issues formal apology to Burkina Faso over airspace violation

Nigeria has officially apologized to Burkina Faso for the incursion of a Nigerian military aircraft into the Alliance of Sahel States airspace. On Wednesday, Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tugar was received by Captain Ibrahim Traore in Ouagadougou, where he conveyed Abuja's apology to Burkinabe authorities and the people. The incident had earlier been denounced in a joint statement by the Sahel member states. It is regrettable that there were irregularities in the documents, particularly with regards to authorization to fly over Burkinabe airspace. This is unfortunate, and we apologize for this regrettable incident. We also discussed the case of a leader of a Nigerian political party who has made disparaging comments about this incident, which is undoubtedly linked to misunderstanding of the situation. Carrying a message of solidarity and cooperation from President Ahmed Bolotinobu to Captain Ibrahim Traore, the Nigerian minister praised Burkina Faso's gain in the fight against terrorism and reaffirmed the commitments of both countries to step up cooperation on regional security. We discussed several issues related to the security of our region, in particular the fight against terrorism and how we must work together to combat this scourge. Nigeria also commended what it termed the spirit of brotherhood shown by the Burkinabe authorities in their treatment of the aircraft's occupants, who still remain in Burkinabe soil, though released.

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