Israel Hayom: Egyptian intelligence moves in Africa against Israel

The Israel Hayom newspaper (Israel Today) revealed intensive Egyptian efforts to confront what it described as “Israeli expansion” on the African continent, especially in Libya.

Israel Hayom said a senior Egyptian intelligence official had exerted pressure to block the expansion of relations between Israeli security agencies and the sons of Khalifa Haftar, the commander of eastern Libya, who hold senior leadership positions within their father’s forces.

Israel Hayom revealed extensive activities and secret visits by a team headed by a senior Egyptian intelligence official to several African countries.

Sources cited by Israel Hayom newspaper indicated that the Egyptian officer focused his efforts on preventing the deepening of relations between the leaders of eastern Libya and Israeli officials.

The Israeli newspaper explained that the goal of the actions of this Egyptian official, who heads the file of the Palestinian issue in Egyptian intelligence, is to stop Israeli activities on the African continent, which Cairo considers harmful to its strategic interests.

According to the report, his visits included Rwanda, Uganda, Libya, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan, explaining that the selection of this Egyptian official for the mission is due to his extensive experience in dealing with regional issues.

Israel Hayom said that the Egyptian security official visited eastern Libya and met with Khalifa Haftar’s son, noting that the meeting included a warning against expanding the circle of communication between Israeli security agencies and Haftar’s sons, Sadam and Khaled, who lead the security services in the region.

The Israeli newspaper also pointed out that the same official visited Sudan at the end of January, where he met with the commander of the Sudanese army and the head of the Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah al Burhan, in addition to senior military and security officials, in order to coordinate the follow-up of Israeli intelligence activities in Sudan.

The newspaper added that Egypt believes that Israel supports the Rapid forces, along with other issues related to the recognition of the state of Somaliland and the dispute over the waters of the Nile River.

In Uganda, the report said that the Egyptian security official conveyed warning messages to local officials after observing meetings between Israeli officials on the Nile Basin issue.