Niger appoints new chief of staff

The rebels who seized power in Niger have announced the appointment of Brigadier General Musa Salau Barmu as the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic, Report informs referring to TASS.

He previously headed the special forces of the Nigerian Armed Forces, ActuNiger reports.

The head of the central body of the rebels - the National Council for the Salvation of the Motherland, General Abdurahman Tchiani - issued a decree on the composition of the council. Various senior military officials have been added to its 16 members, and a secretariat has been established to coordinate with other transitional bodies.

After announcing the suspension of the current constitution and all the institutions of government created on its basis, the rebels announced that the council temporarily assumes executive and legislative power, and its chairman will act as head of state.