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Sudan Tribune

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Sudan spy chief accuses Western embassies of recruiting agents

April 06, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — The top security official in Sudan accused some Western embassies in Sudan of “meddling in Sudan affairs”.

Salah Gosh, Director of Sudanese National Security (right) greeted by an unidentified Egyptian official Sirte, Libya. 29 October 2007 (UN)
Salah Gosh, Director of Sudanese National Security (right) greeted by an unidentified Egyptian official Sirte, Libya. 29 October 2007 (UN)
Salah Gosh, the head of Sudan’s National Security and Intelligence Service, speaking to forum named “Foreign presence in Sudan and its effect on National Security” said that these embassies are “acting like a watchdog on the executive branch”.

“They are trying to influence the government agencies as well as Sudan’s politics” he added.

Gosh has become increasingly involved in public events and speaking to the press after years of maintaining a low profile. It was only in the last couple of years that his pictures were made widely public.

The timing of Gosh’s remarks could be linked to statements he made during a press conference last February in which he lashed out at journalists saying that some of them want to be “fake heroes” by accusing the government of supporting Chadian rebels following their failed assault on the capital Ndjamena .

“We know that there are some journalists who are in contact with some embassies and receiving money from them” Gosh said but declined to name them.

The Sudanese official said that western diplomats are “moving freely and meeting leaders of political parties and NGO’s in their homes”.

“Some of these meetings are for Sudan’s sake but others are to recruit agents” Gosh said.

He also complained about the lack of legislation regarding the foreign presence in the country before adding that some diplomats are “carrying out activities beyond what they are allowed to”.

Gosh is considered to be a very powerful figure in Sudan and has transformed the security bureau into a dominant department within the government. He is also the main architect of the counter-terrorism cooperation between his government and the US administration.

(ST)

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