ANKARA

A Nigerian aircraft landed in Burkina Faso due to technical concerns, and the crew was cordially welcomed by Burkinabe authorities, according to an official statement on Tuesday.

The Confederation of Sahel States (AES) previously said on Monday that it will neutralize all aircraft violating its airspace, after a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso, and an investigation by Burkinabe authorities revealed that the landing was unauthorized.

The AES described this as a violation of Burkina Faso’s airspace, however, the aircraft made a precautionary landing due to technical concerns, the Nigerian Air Force spokesperson said in a statement reported by the Nigerian daily Sun.

The aircraft was on a ferry mission to Portugal, the crew noticed an issue soon after take-off, and decided to land in the nearest field available, which was in Burkina Faso, the statement added.

The confederation condemned it “in the strongest terms” and said it was an “unfriendly act, regardless of international law and international civil/military aviation rules.”

The Nigerian statement, however, noted that the crew was "safe and have received cordial treatment from the host authorities."

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger -- countries facing "the same difficulties" -- established the Confederation of Sahel States on July 6, 2024, following the adoption of the Liptako-Gourma Charter, which created the Alliance of Sahel States on Sept. 16, 2023.

The confederation has taken bold steps to redefine its international alignment, including recent withdrawals from the Economic Community of West African States and the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF).