KEY POINTS
- Nigeria–Burkina Faso diplomatic talks led to the release of detained Nigerian soldiers.
- Tinubu dispatched a senior delegation to resolve the dispute directly.
- Talks also covered broader security and regional cooperation.
Burkina Faso has released Nigerian soldiers detained after their aircraft made an unscheduled landing in the country earlier this month, Nigerian officials said, easing a brief but sensitive diplomatic standoff between the two West African states.
The release followed direct intervention by President Bola Tinubu, who sent a high-level delegation to Ouagadougou to engage Burkina Faso’s military leadership. The team was led by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and held talks on Wednesday with Burkina Faso’s leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
According to Nigerian officials, discussions focused on resolving the incident while reinforcing broader diplomatic and security cooperation at a time of heightened regional strain.
In a statement, Tuggar’s spokesperson, Alkasim Abdulkadir, said both sides resolved the issue amicably and secured the release of the Nigerian Air Force pilots and crew. He said Tuggar conveyed a message of solidarity and fraternity from Tinubu to Traoré during the meeting.
The soldiers had been held for nearly two weeks after the Confederation of Sahel States described the aircraft’s landing as an “unfriendly act” that violated international law. The bloc, which includes Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, has taken a harder stance toward perceived security threats amid rising tensions with neighboring countries.
Nigeria–Burkina Faso diplomatic talks
Nigeria’s Air Force disputed that account. It said the aircraft encountered a technical issue and made a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, the nearest suitable airfield. The service said the crew followed established aviation safety procedures and complied with international protocols.
Unconfirmed reports last week suggested the soldiers had already been freed, but Tuggar said at the time that they remained in Burkina Faso and that negotiations were still underway. Accoridng to Business Day, talks that ultimately led to their release were held on Wednesday in Ouagadougou.
Beyond the immediate dispute, discussions also addressed political, security and economic cooperation. Officials from both countries emphasized the need for joint responses to regional security challenges, particularly in the Sahel, where militant violence has intensified.
“The two sides agreed to sustain regular consultations and pursue practical measures to deepen bilateral cooperation and regional integration,” Abdulkadir said. He added that the talks reflected a shared commitment to peace, unity and stability across the sub-region.
Members of Nigeria’s delegation included Mohammed Mohammed, director-general of the National Intelligence Agency; A. Y. Abdullahi, chief of policy and plans at the Nigerian Air Force; Olawale Awe, Nigeria’s permanent representative to the Economic Community of West African States; and Wahab Akande, chief of protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
