Belgium Air Force Airbus 400M Atlas cargo aircraft is reportedly on its way to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Brant Philip, a Sahel-region security analyst who monitors military movements across West Africa, described the situation as “unexpected”.
In a post on X, Philip stated that the Belgium military aircraft was travelling to the same location where the Nigerian Air Force C-130 cargo plane is currently positioned.
He had earlier noted that an unidentified aircraft from Bamako, Mali, departed a few hours earlier, heading north before turning south towards Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.
He wrote: “Belgium Air Force Airbus 400M Atlas cargo aircraft is unexpectedly landing in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
“An unidentified aircraft from Bamako, Mali, took off a few hours ago towards the north of the country before heading south towards Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, where the Nigerian Air Force C-130 cargo plane is currently stationed, possible Malian delegation en route”.
It will be recalled that since Monday night, at least 11 Nigerian soldiers have been detained by the military authorities in Bobo-Dioulasso in the South West of Burkina Faso.
They were apprehended after their aircraft carried out an emergency landing while “violating AES airspace.”
A group of military officers had, on December 7, announced that they had seized power in the Benin Republic.
However, the Benin Republic presidency later confirmed that the attempted coup had been foiled and that President Patrice Talon remained safe.
