A report published by investigative website Disclose on Sunday revealed that Egypt has used intelligence provided by the French military to target and kill civilians suspected of smuggling.
The mission between the two countries, named “Sirli,” was established to provide intelligence to Egyptian authorities on security threats along Egypt’s border with Libya. The Disclose report stated that the mission consisted of aerial reconnaissance and surveillance via light aircraft over the Western desert to search for possible terrorist threats coming from Libya.
The report added, however, that French intelligence officers had quickly realised that the intelligence information was being misused to “kill civilians suspected of [carrying] contraband,” adding that French military staff regularly notified their supervisors about the abuse of intelligence.
The report is based on hundreds of leaked classified documents containing information on the operation. As per the documents, the French military was involved in at least 19 airstrikes against civilians between 2016 and 2018.
French opposition deputies and left-wing opposition party La France Insoumise have called for an inquiry by a parliamentary committee to investigate the claims. The opposition also called on Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who served as the defence minister under President François Hollande, who was in power from 2012 to 2017, to appear before the Parliament to answer the allegations. Likewise, Defence Minister Florence Parly ordered an individual investigation into the claims following the report’s publication.
The French Presidency and the military did not respond to request for comments from journalists who conducted the investigations. Hours after the story broke, the French defence ministry, in a statement, confirmed arrangements between the two countries in the fields of intelligence and counterterrorism. However, the ministry refused to divulge any details regarding the operation due to security reasons. The statement also mentioned that an investigation has been launched.
Operation Sirli began under the presidency of Hollande in February 2016. The operation continued despite concerns raised by the French military intelligence (DRM) and the air force over the misuse of intelligence by Egypt. The DRM and air force also expressed their reservations regarding Egypt’s use of French intelligence in a note to Parly on January 22, 2019, before French President Emmanuel Macron was due for an official visit to Egypt. Nevertheless, the French military remained deployed in Egypt.
Egypt is one of France’s main clients for arms exports. Sales to Egypt increased when Egyptian President Gen. Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi took office in 2014. Since then, Egypt has bought Rafale fighter aircraft, a frigate, four corvettes, and two Mistral helicopter carriers from France. In December 2020, Macron presented the Egyptian president with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor, the highest French award.
New Report Reveals Egypt Used French Military Intelligence to Target, Kill Civilians
An investigative report has revealed that Egypt has abused French intelligence and that the French military was involved in at least 19 airstrikes against Egyptian civilians between 2016 and 2018.
November 23, 2021
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (L) and French President Emmanuel Macron IMAGE SOURCE: THE STRAITS TIMES