Djamari Chaniago
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Djamari Chaniago (born 8 April 1949) is an Indonesian politician and retired high-ranking military officer who has served as the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs since 17 September 2025. He is also a member of the Council of Titles, Decorations, and Honors for the 2025–2030 term. Upon his appointment, he became the oldest minister to be inaugurated in the history of the Cabinet of Indonesia.
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Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin (acting)
Djamari Chaniago | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2025 | |
| 17th Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs | |
| Assumed office 17 September 2025 | |
| President | Prabowo Subianto |
| Deputy | Lodewijk Freidrich Paulus |
| Preceded by | Budi Gunawan Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin (acting) |
| Chief of the General Staff of the Indonesian National Armed Forces | |
| In office 8 March 2000 – 16 March 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Suaidi Marasabessy |
| Succeeded by | Wartoyo |
| Vice Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army | |
| In office 9 November 1999 – 1 March 2000 | |
| Preceded by | Johny Lumintang |
| Succeeded by | Endriartono Sutarto |
| 24th [[Commander of Kostrad]] | |
| In office 23 May 1998 – 24 November 1999 | |
| Preceded by | Johny Lumintang |
| Succeeded by | Djaja Suparman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Djamari Chaniago April 8, 1949 Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia |
| Party | Gerindra |
| Spouse | Hasnawati |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Indonesian Military Academy (1971) |
| Occupation | Retired military officer, politician |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Indonesia |
| Branch/service |  Indonesian Army |
| Years of service | 1971–2004 |
| Rank |  General (Honorary) |
| Unit | Infantry |
| Battles/wars | Operation Seroja |
His final military position before entering the cabinet was chief of the General Staff of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) with the rank of lieutenant general, appointed on 8 March 2000 to succeed Suaidi Marasabessy.[1] He previously served as the Commander of the Kostrad. A 1971 graduate of the Indonesian Military Academy, he spent his career in the infantry. In the private sector, Chaniago served as the president commissioner of PT Semen Padang from 2015 to 2016.[2][3]
Biography
Djamari Chaniago was born into a military family in West Sumatra.[4][5] His father, Mochtar, originated from Tanah Datar, while his mother, Djamilah, was from Padang and belonged to the Minangkabau Chaniago clan. He spent his childhood and youth in Bandung.[6]
Djamari graduated from the Indonesian Military Academy (Akabri) in 1971.[7] He was posted to the Army Strategic Command (Kostrad) in 1974 and held several combat command positions in Aceh and East Timor between the 1970s and 1990s.[4]
Djamari's notable assignments include serving as commander of the 330th Airborne Infantry Battalion, commander of the 0501st Military District Command (Central Jakarta) from 1988 to 1990, and chief of staff of the 18th Kostrad Infantry Brigade. He was promoted to colonel while serving as commander of the 18th Airborne Infantry Brigade (Kostrad) from 1992 to 1993, and later became commander of the Kodam I/Bukit Barisan Training Regiment. Following his promotion to brigadier general in 1995, he was appointed commander of the 2nd Infantry Division (Kostrad).[8][9] In 1997, he was appointed Commander of Kodam III/Siliwangi.[10]
On 23 May 1998, Djamari was promoted to Commander of Kostrad (Pangkostrad).[11] On 21 August 1998, he served as Secretary of the Officers' Honor Council (DKP), which recommended the dismissal of his predecessor, Prabowo Subianto, from military service; however, Prabowo was ultimately honorably discharged by President B. J. Habibie.[12]
On 9 November 1999, Djamari was appointed Vice Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army. Subsequently, on 8 March 2000, he was named Chief of the General Staff of the TNI, a position he held until his retirement in 2004.[13]
Djamari also served as a member of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR RI) representing the West Java Regional Representatives (1997–1998)[14][15] and the ABRI (Military) Fraction (1998–1999).[16]
On 17 September 2025, President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated Djamari Chaniago as the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs.[17] Prior to his inauguration, Djamari received a special promotion to the rank of honorary four-star general (TNI Jenderal Kehormatan), alongside Ahmad Dofiri from the Indonesian National Police.[18]