Nigeria's security ties fray with Sahel allies amid aircraft detention and border disputes

In December 2025 a Nigerian Air Force C-130 made an unscheduled landing in Burkina Faso’s Bobo-Dioulasso and was held for several days before diplomatic negotiations freed the aircraft and its 11-member crew. The incident reflects a deepening divide between Nigeria and the three Sahel nations that formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and exited ECOWAS in early 2025. Analysts trace part of the security strain to the post-Gaddafi influx of bandits into Nigeria’s north.

Recent withdrawals, such as Niger’s exit from the Multinational Joint Task Force, have created gaps in regional counter-terrorism coordination. Concurrently, coordinated attacks in Mali that killed Defence Minister Sadio Camara illustrate the volatile security environment. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s remarks on Sahel insecurity prompted sharp rebukes from AES officials, further hardening positions. The growing political split threatens to impede joint efforts against trans-national militant groups operating across the Liptako-Gourma border region.