Egyptian intelligence moves to counter Israeli activity in Africa

Egypt has launched a series of wide-ranging, undisclosed diplomatic and security moves across several African countries to counter Israeli activity it views as harmful to Egyptian interests.

According to unnamed Egyptian sources speaking to The New Arab's sister outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, the effort is being led by Major General Ahmed Abdel Khalek, the official responsible for the Palestine file at Egypt’s General Intelligence Service.

A senior diplomatic source told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Abdel Khalek held meetings with security officials in a number of African states in an attempt to contain and limit Israeli intelligence movements aimed at undermining Egyptian interests.

The source said Egypt has monitored activity by Israel’s Mossad linked to the Sudan crisis, particularly in support of the Rapid Support Forces.

The source revealed that Abdel Khalek’s visits included Rwanda, Uganda, Libya, Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan, noting that his appointment to lead the mission was due to his extensive experience in dealing with Israeli officials through years of managing the Gaza and Palestine files.

Abdel Khalek appeared publicly and unexpectedly alongside Egypt’s intelligence chief, Major General Hassan Mahmoud Rashad, during a visit to Sudan at the end of last month, where they met Sudan's de facto leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

According to the source, Abdel Khalek held several meetings on the sidelines of the visit with Sudanese security and military officials, aimed at coordinating responses after Egypt monitored activity by Mossad officers related to the Sudan crisis.

The source said these activities were linked to support for the Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as "Hemedti", as well as issues relating to the Nile and the breakaway Somali region of Somaliland, which Israel recently recognised as an independent state.

The source added that Abdel Khalek’s visit to Uganda earlier last month came after Egypt observed meetings with Israeli officials concerning the Nile Basin and attempts to undermine Egyptian interests.

The source also said Abdel Khalek visited eastern Libya in mid-January at the head of a General Intelligence Service delegation, where he met Saddam Haftar, the son of eastern Libya militia leader Khalifa Haftar.

During the visit, Cairo warned against the expansion of relations and contacts between Israeli security officials and Haftar’s sons, Saddam and Khaled, stressing that Egypt would not allow any expansion of Israeli activity along its western border.

Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council had earlier issued an official statement on 24 January regarding Rashad’s visit, saying that talks with al-Burhan focused on bilateral relations, counterterrorism efforts, and the protection of Red Sea and regional security.

The statement included photographs in which Abdel Khalek appeared alongside Rashad, an unusual public appearance for the official.