Is Egypt using intelligence provided by France in the fight against terrorism to target civilians? This is what asserts the investigative media Disclose, who had access to “Confidential defense documents”.
According to Disclose, the French intelligence mission “Sirli”, started in February 2016 for the benefit of Egypt in the name of the fight against terrorism, has been hijacked by the Egyptian state, which uses the information collected to carry out strikes. aircraft on vehicles of suspected traffickers on the border with Libya.
Governments informed
“In principle, the mission (…) consists of scanning the western desert to detect possible terrorist threats from Libya ”, using a light surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft (ALSR) leased to the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DRM), details Disclose, who has already published embarrassing revelations for the French armies.
“Theoretically, the data collected should be cross-checked in order to assess the reality of the threat and the identity of the suspects. But, very quickly, the team members realized that the intelligence provided to the Egyptians was being used to kill civilians suspected of smuggling. A drift of which they will alert their hierarchy at regular intervals “, in vain, continues the online media.
The DRM and the Air Force are indeed worried about the excesses of the operation, as evidenced by a note sent to the French presidency on November 23, 2017, reproduced by Disclose : “Due to a lack of surveillance means, the identification of pick-ups cannot be carried out without any other element of assessment than the initial overflight of which they were the subject. Also, the identification of certain vehicles and the resulting interdiction strikes could be subject to caution. “
Another note dated January 22, 2019, for the attention of the Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, before an official visit to Egypt with the French President, Emmanuel Macron, indicates “Proven cases of destruction of objectives detected by the aircraft” French and esteemed “Important to remind the partner that the ALSR is not a targeting tool”.
However, no agreement will be signed nor the mission called into question, assures Disclose, who asserts that “The French army is still deployed in the Egyptian desert”. According to documents obtained by the investigative media, “French forces were allegedly involved in at least 19 bombings against civilians, between 2016 and 2018”.
Sale of military equipment on the increase
On Sunday, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces reported that Florence Parly had “Requested that an investigation be launched on the information disseminated by Disclose “. He refused to communicate on the revelations of the investigative media, specifying:
“Egypt is a partner of France with which – as with many other countries – we maintain relations in the field of intelligence and the fight against terrorism (…) in the service of regional security and the protection of the French. For obvious reasons of safety and efficiency, we will not communicate further on the nature of the cooperation mechanisms implemented in this area. “
Despite Paris’ stated desire to refocus its arms exports to Europe, Egypt is one of the main recipients of French military equipment. These sales increased considerably with the coming to power of Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi in 2014, mainly between 2014 and 2016 through the sale of Rafale fighters, a frigate, four corvettes and two carriers. Mistral helicopters.
President Sissi was received in December 2020 by Emmanuel Macron, who presented him with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor, the highest French honorary distinction. This decision, in a country accused by non-governmental organizations of flouting human rights and using weapons against civilians, sparked outrage on social media.