Nigeria and the Sahel: A growing security divide

In late December 2025, Burkina Faso detained 11 Nigerian Air Force personnel after their C-130 transport aircraft made an unscheduled landing in Bobo-Dioulasso. According to local authorities, the plane had entered Burkinabe airspace without proper clearance. Nigerian officials countered that the landing was due to a technical issue and was conducted under standard safety protocols. After diplomatic discussions, the crew and aircraft were released on December 17 and left the country two days later, proceeding to Portugal via Ghana. This incident highlights the increasing tension between Nigeria and the Sahelian nations of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. These three countries established the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in September 2023 through the Liptako-Gourma Charter, aiming to create a unified defense mechanism and mutual support system. However, they have since distanced themselves from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional organization promoting economic integration. Their formal exit from ECOWAS took effect on January 29, 2025. Experts suggest that the current security situation in the region can be partially attributed to the aftermath of the 2011 ousting of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Bolaji Akinyemi, a professor and former Nigerian foreign minister, explained that the collapse of Libya led to an influx of armed groups into the Sahel, which eventually found their way into Nigeria. “These groups couldn't travel northward across the Mediterranean, so they moved southward into Nigeria,” he stated. He expressed hope that diplomatic efforts might prevent further escalation of tensions among the four nations. Security concerns are shared by both Nigeria and its Sahelian neighbors. In Nigeria, Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) continue to pose serious threats, especially in the northeastern regions. ISWAP's activities extend into southeastern Niger, particularly in the Diffa region. In March 2025, Niger decided to withdraw from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), a regional coalition designed to combat armed groups in the Lake Chad Basin. The decision was reportedly made to enhance the protection of Niger's oil infrastructure. Abiola Sadiq, a Nigerian resilience adviser, noted that Niger's departure from MNJTF has weakened regional counterterrorism collaboration. “Niger’s withdrawal has created a noticeable gap in regional counterterrorism cooperation and cross-border coordination,” he said. He warned that deteriorating relations between Nigeria and the AES could provide ISWAP with more opportunities to operate freely across loosely controlled border areas. Nigeria shares a substantial northern boundary with Niger, with states such as Borno and Yobe adjacent to Niger in the northeast, and Sokoto and Katsina situated further west. The security landscape becomes even more complex further west, where similar threats persist. On April 25, 2026, multiple attacks struck several locations in Mali, resulting in the death of Defense Minister Sadio Camara during an assault on his residence in Kati, near Bamako. According to reports from Mali's government and Reuters, the attacks were carried out by al-Qaeda-linked Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front. These developments indicate that the security challenges in the region are not confined to one nation but affect the entire Sahel.