Nigeria and the Sahel: A growing security divide
Summary
In December 2025, Burkina Faso detained 11 Nigerian Air Force crew after their plane made an emergency landing without permission but later released them following talks. This event highlights growing political and security tensions between Nigeria and the Sahel countries of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, who formed a new alliance and left the regional economic group ECOWAS.Key Facts
- A Nigerian Air Force C-130 plane made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso in December 2025 due to technical problems.
- Burkina Faso detained the 11 crew members for entering its airspace without approval; they were released after diplomatic discussions.
- Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger created the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in 2023 for mutual defense.
- These three countries withdrew from ECOWAS, a West African economic community, in January 2025.
- The region faces ongoing security issues from groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP operating across borders.
- Niger left a joint regional force fighting armed groups around Lake Chad in March 2025 to protect its oil fields.
- Experts warn that the reduced cooperation between Nigeria and AES countries could allow militants to move and operate more freely.
- In April 2026, coordinated militant attacks in Mali killed the country's defense minister, showing continued instability in the Sahel.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
