Spies lead the way in Big Powers’ second scramble for Africa

Leaked US diplomatic cables revealed that a close ally of South African President Jacob Zuma and head of the country’s secret service was a key source of sensitive information. PHOTO | STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN | AFP

What you need to know:

  • A South African assessment of its security apparatus revealed that more than 140 foreign spies operate in the country and had gained access to the presidency and government ministries.
  • Foreign spies also collect sensitive information by stealing it from laptop computers, gaining access to insufficiently locked-up facilities, senior officials in sensitive institutions and unencrypted information conveyed through landline or mobile phones.
  • Another means of collecting sensitive information is through smart phones, tablets, laptops, pens and pennants given out as presents. Mossad agents have even used dirty tricks like threatening the South African government with cyber attacks against country’s banking and financial sectors.
  • In an encounter that lasted 40 minutes, Mr Kibaki was sullen and challenged Mr William Bellamy to share specific information that guided his government’s decision. Mr Kibaki said he could only act against Mr Murungaru if he was handed specific evidence.

In this intensified fight for the continent’s resources, we are witnessing a dramatic growth of China’s economic role, a resurgence of French influence and the rapid expansion of western military presence, writes TREVOR NG’ULIA

The release last month by Al Jazeera of secret documents, leaked from numerous intelligence agencies, offered rare insights into the intricate spy world.

These leaks have increased our knowledge of how we are spied upon, what spies look for and who amongst us works for them.

But what is most interesting about these latest leaked cables is the portrayal of Africa as the 21st century theatre of espionage. It is for this reason that The Guardian newspaper quoted a serving foreign intelligence officer calling Africa “the El Dorado of espionage.”

Spying, they say, is a profession that is as old as prostitution. Intelligence historians have traced its origin to Biblical times when God spoke to Moses and told him to send men to spy out the land of Canaan.

The instructions given to the 12 spies by Moses were very specific: “Go up this way into the south, and go up to the mountains and see what the land is like: whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, few or many; whether the land they dwell in is good or bad; whether the cities they inhabit are like camps or strongholds; whether the land is rich or poor; and whether there are forests there or not.

Be of good courage. And bring some of the fruit of the land.”

ESPIONAGE IS BORN

From this point on, espionage was born and has become an intricate mindgame of deceit, intrigue and a thrilling collection and exchange of information.

A second step in the intelligence cycle that includes planning, processing, production and dissemination entails gathering information through means like surveillance and cultivation of human contacts.

In the past, we were transfixed to James Hadley Chase thriller novels and action packed James Bond movies. We imagined that captivating spy scenes portrayed in these novels and movies could only take place in Europe and North America.

However, the leaked spy cables have pointed to Africa as a focus of international spying during the second scramble for the continent.
In the scramble for Africa’s resources, we are witnessing a dramatic growth of China’s economic role, a resurgence of French influence and the rapid expansion of western military presence and activities.

Additionally, western spies are monitoring extremist groups that threaten western interests, Chinese economic activities and political figures who play key roles in determining relations with foreign interests.

The Al Jazeera leaked cables show that Pretoria is not just the capital of South Africa but also of global espionage. 

There are 78 foreign spies actively snooping around in Pretoria. This is understandable since Pretoria has the highest number of foreign embassies in Africa. These spies work under the cover of the 120 diplomatic representations as well as in hundreds of companies and Non-Governmental Organisations.

140 FOREIGN SPIES

A South African assessment of its security apparatus revealed that more than 140 foreign spies operate in the country and had gained access to the presidency and government ministries. They were also suspected of breaking into nuclear power plants, stealing military documents and hacking state computers.

A plausible explanation for South Africa’ centrality in the continent’s spy games is its status as a regional powerhouse and communications hub. The most active spies are American (CIA), French, and British (MI6), Israel’s Mossad and Russia’s FSB as are the Dutch and Danes who work closely with the CIA and MI6. Indians and Senegalese are also spying on South Africa.

The Al Jazeera spy files depict an Israel that is working assiduously to encircle and isolate Sudan from the outside and to fuel insurrection inside Sudan.

Israelis are also said to be interested in Africa’s mineral wealth, particularly diamonds which they want to acquire and process. The files reveal that Israel, which is the world’s second largest processor of diamonds, is involved in training militias in Africa.

Since most of these violent groups are heavily involved in trafficking of blood diamonds, it is a shocking revelation that Israel supports them.

Foreign spies do not operate alone. They have local accomplices, particularly officials holding key government positions and operatives in local spy agencies.

A poorly managed and undisciplined spy agency can cause more harm than good to national interests.

TAKE ADVANTAGE

For instance, it is suspected that technologically sophisticated criminals with links to state intelligence could have carried out the break-in at the Pelindaba Nuclear Research Centre in 2007.

Foreign spying agencies usually take advantage of intelligence services fractured along ethnic lines. Agencies that are mismanaged create extremely vengeful spies with tremendous axes to grind to embarrass the agency and spill its secrets. A local spy with a wounded ego is more dangerous than a foreign one in our midst.

Foreign spies also collect sensitive information by stealing it from laptop computers, gaining access to insufficiently locked-up facilities, senior officials in sensitive institutions and unencrypted information conveyed through landline or mobile phones.

Foreign diplomats have used their privileged status to access places and individuals with sensitive information. Some governments have also been lax in properly screening foreigners applying for or assigning them to sensitive jobs.

Both Wikileaks and spy cables reveal a motley of tricks used in spycraft. In South Africa, Mossad uses sexual blackmail or entrapment by employing prostitutes and photographing them with sources for potential blackmail leverage.

It also sends male agents abroad to seduce embassy secretaries and airline stewardesses to provide valuable information about diplomats, airports and other places or people of interest.

Mossad has also penetrated numerous sources within security agencies and used nationals in intelligence activities.

USE THREATS

Another means of collecting sensitive information is through smart phones, tablets, laptops, pens and pennants given out as presents. Mossad agents have even used dirty tricks like threatening the South African government with cyber attacks against country’s banking and financial sectors.

Spy cables revealed how a Mossad spy carried out counter-surveillance by altering driving speed on a highway; pulling over and waiting next to the road for approximately four minutes for no specific reason; changing access routes to his house every time he used his vehicle; cutting his rubbish bags in such a manner that it could not be lifted from the dustbin without spilling the contents; utilising the Jewish community in its covert collection activities; regularly contacting security agents; having contacts within key government departments such as Foreign Affairs and Interior; and using cellular phone for communication.

Leaked US diplomatic cable revealed how foreign spying agencies usually have key government figures as their confidants and key sources of sensitive information. According to a cable from the American embassy in Pretoria, a close ally of President Jacob Zuma and head of the South African secret service was such a source.

In a number of cables from the American Embassy in Nairobi, a powerful  civil servant with access to Cabinet secrets  was heavily relied upon to supply information during the Kibaki regime.

Foreign governments also embed in key government institutions people who act as conduits of information. In June 2005, the CIA used a senior official of a US-funded Parliamentary strengthening project to collect information on a motion in Parliament Mr Paul Muite had filed to censure the US for attempting to arm-twist Kenya into signing an agreement.

Western spying agencies, particularly American and British, frequently use food and alcohol to entice high-ranking officials, representatives of civil societies and the media to pour out national and state secrets.

Another common practice of collecting information is through invitations of high-ranking governments and other identified sources of information to western capitals for official visits to meet with senior officials to discuss “mutual concerns.”

CONDUITS OF FUNDS

They also use “research” and “development agencies” as conduits of funds and organisers of events that bring together scholars, civil society, media and government officials to share “findings.”

Some of these “seminars” and “workshops” are held in western cities, where participants are dined, wined and encouraged to exchange information “under Chatham House Rule.”

The spying methods are always evolving and being modified for effective extraction of information. For instance, in the old days it was fashionable to use messengers, filing clerks, drivers, bodyguards and cleaners to collect information. But nowadays spies use “stove piping” to access information from all levels of government, including the presidency. The main targets include the intelligence chief, the military intelligence head, the police chief, the internal security minister, the foreign affairs minister, the presidential gatekeeper, and others.

In one of the cables from the Nairobi Embassy, the American Ambassador met President Mwai Kibaki in October 2005 to convey his government’s decision to ban Mr Chris Murunguru, then Transport Minister, from travelling to the US.

KIBAKI-BELLAMY FACE-OFF

In an encounter that lasted 40 minutes, Mr Kibaki was sullen and challenged Mr William Bellamy to share specific information that guided his government’s decision. Mr Kibaki said he could only act against Mr Murungaru if he was handed specific evidence.

The irony of this conversation was that Mr Kibaki was asking the ambassador to share with him information which Americans had obtained from Kenyans. But Mr Bellamy refused to share it since it was from “sensitive sources, or persons who would not want their identities revealed.” He insisted that privacy rules precluded him from providing specifics on why Mr Murungaru was being banned from travelling to the US. Mr Kibaki insisted that unless Americans provided him with more specific information and hard data on Mr Murungaru, he could not take the necessary decisions.

On his way out of Mr Kibaki’s office, Mr Bellamy bumped into two senior state officials who were lingering outside during the tête-à-tête. On being debriefed on what had transpired, both “appeared disappointed at the President’s indecisiveness.” One of them confided in Mr Bellamy that Mr Kibaki had plenty of evidence but was just refusing to act.

The spy games will continue being part of how governments are run. So long as states have interests that must be protected and promoted, they will need spies.

The intelligence leaked by Mr Julian Assange and Mr Edward Snowden on the US spying on friendly countries like Germany clearly means that even friendly states are not as chummy as they appear.

The complicity of locals, particularly well-placed individuals in government, means that enemies are also within. The negative impact of spying can be minimised by use of counter-intelligence to identify, circumvent and neutralise foreign spies.

Prof Ng’ulia is a security expert. [email protected]