Niger Appoints New Chief of Staff After Mutiny

On September 11, 2026, General Abdourahamane Tiani, the head of Niger's junta, appointed Brigadier General Mamane Sani Kiaou as the new chief of staff of the armed forces, according to state TV. Kiaou, who previously served as army chief of staff, replaces General Moussa Salaou Barmou, whose dismissal was not explained.

This change follows a thwarted army mutiny in August 2026 that challenged Tiani's authority, during which disgruntled soldiers attacked sensitive sites in Niamey and occupied a military base at the airport. The uprising was suppressed with assistance from Russian mercenaries.

Kiaou is recognized as a seasoned field commander, having led operations against jihadist groups in Niger’s Tillaberi and Diffa regions. He recently completed a tour of military garrisons to restore troop cohesion and was involved in negotiations for the withdrawal of French and US forces from Niger after the July 2023 coup that ousted elected President Mohamed Bazoum, who remains detained.

Tiani's government has shifted its alliances towards Russia, distancing itself from Western partners.