A government source announced Saturday that Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum has appointed a new chief of staff for his country’s armed forces, which is facing jihadist violence.
The new chief of staff appointed is Major General Abdou Sidikou Issa, replacing General Salifou Mody, in office since 2020.
General Sidikou Issa was Inspector General of the army and gendarmerie and had previously held senior military positions, including in the Niger National Guard (GNN), a counter-terrorism entity.
Niger’s army is fighting terrorist groups in the west and in the south-east, such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa (Iswap).
On Friday, in neighbouring Burkina Faso, transitional president Ibrahima Traoré appointed Célestin Simporé as the new chief of staff of the army to wage “war” on terrorist groups.