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The aircraft touched down in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso’s second-largest city, which the Nigerian Air Force said was the closest airfield to ensure the plane’s safety. However, the account from the three Sahel countries, formally known as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), disagreed, insisting the plane had entered Burkina Faso without permission and had been forced to land.
Several African nations have cooperated with US deportation plans in recent months. Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda, and South Sudan have all received deportees, while Nigeria, like Burkina Faso, refused to accept them. Earlier this week, Eswatini received ten deportees, adding to a prior group of five that the US described as serious criminals.
The announcement, made in a joint statement by the military-led governments, intensifies the Sahel nations’ breakaway from Western institutions.
Capt Traoré, who seized power in a 2022 coup, has positioned himself as a Pan-Africanist leader, often criticising colonial influence and the West.
Burkina Faso has endured a jihadist insurgency since 2015, with groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State killing thousands and forcing millions from their homes
Local giants AS Sonabel leads club representation with four players, reflecting their strong domestic performances, while Majestic SC, ASFB, USFA, and Rahimo FC, each contribute three players to the squad
Much of Traoré’s fame has been built on the back of strong social media campaigns.