Tension mounts between Egyptian intelligence services over Sinai

Tension is mounting between Egypt’s general and military intelligence agencies, the two main arms of the North African country’s national security apparatus due to overlapping jurisdictions in the fight against terrorism in the north of Sinai, the French Intelligence Online magazine has reported. The publication claims that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi favours the military intelligence agency and does not seem to have much confidence in its general intelligence counterpart.

“Publishing the names of general intelligence officers who have been removed from their posts,” said the online report, signals a “final dismissal from the service.” It is “a violent jolt” to the agency, especially at this time, as the battle continues on the ground.

Al-Sisi issued a decree this week transferring general intelligence personnel to several public ministries, including the ministry of electricity and ministry of finance. The decree is effective from 1 August.

Observers believe that the way that these moves have been made public signals presidential dissatisfaction with the general intelligence agency’s performance, and aims to issue a public warning about the continuation of the current situation.