Niger Military Government Overhauls Top Army Command Following Failed Mutiny

Niger's military government has appointed a new chief of the armed forces as part of a major reshuffle of its top military command following a failed mutiny late last month.

A decree broadcast on state television on Friday announced that General Mamane Sani Kiaou, who previously served as the army's chief of staff, will take over as head of the armed forces, replacing General Moussa Salaou Barmou. Both commanders had held senior positions since a July 2023 coup brought a group of army officers led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani to power. No official reason was provided for General Barmou's removal.

According to the same decree, General Abdourahmane Abou Zataka has been promoted to succeed General Kiaou as army chief of staff. Regional broadcaster RFI reported that General Ismael K Sidi Omar has also been appointed as the new second-in-command of the general staff. General Sidi Omar previously commanded Base 101, the airport base at the center of the mutiny, and remained loyal to General Tchiani throughout the crisis.

The mutiny began on August 28 and lasted nearly 24 hours, involving fighting at the presidential palace, Niamey's international airport, and a nearby military base. According to Niger's Ministry of Defence, mostly young soldiers took fellow servicemen hostage and opened fire on several sensitive sites. Military government forces required support from Russia’s Africa Corps, a state-backed force that has replaced the mercenary group Wagner in several African countries, which provided ground and air assistance. Dozens of mutineers were killed or arrested, alongside three members of the presidential guard, though the government has not disclosed an overall death toll or specific charges for the detained soldiers.

Analysts and diplomats told The Associated Press that the mutineers appeared motivated by frustration over worsening attacks by armed groups and poor conditions within the military. General Kiaou is a seasoned field commander who has led operations against armed groups in Niger’s western Tillaberi region and southeastern Diffa region, and he helped negotiate the withdrawal of French and United States troops following the coup. State media reported that he recently completed a tour of the country's main garrisons aimed at restoring unity within the ranks.

General Tchiani’s government seized power in July 2023 from elected President Mohamed Bazoum, who remains in detention, citing the former civilian administration's failure to contain armed groups and violence. Since taking power, Niger has severed military ties with France and the US while aligning more closely with Russia, even as the security situation continues to deteriorate. Niger has accused France of orchestrating last month's mutiny, an allegation that the French government dismissed as "pure fantasy."