Representatives from French, UAE and Saudi intelligence also attended the conference.
BY AGENCIES *
A high-level delegation from the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) attended the 14th session of the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA) convened this week in Sudan.
Fifty-one African intelligence chiefs [except Eritrea] attended the event, which is due to wrap up on Friday.
Brig Gen Joseph Nzabamwita of Rwanda has handed over chairmanship of the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA) to the Sudan.
“Sudanese intelligence [NISS] is one of the more innovative intelligence services in Africa, and this conference is important because it allows us to share our experiences in fighting problems like terror, an issue we face even in Southern Africa,” said a member of the Angolan intelligence service who asked not to be named.
The participation of a CIA delegation at a high-profile security event in Khartoum has been seen by some observers as a possible sign of thawing US-Sudanese relations.
Earlier this year, the US lifted several longstanding economic sanctions imposed on Khartoum, citing Sudanese cooperation in the regional fight against terrorism.
However, a number of US sanctions – some of which were imposed over two decades ago based on allegations that Khartoum supported terrorism – remain in effect.
Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir was the last to speak at the conference’s public session described continued US sanctions on his country as “unjust”.
“These sanctions have weakened my country and caused immense hardship for its people,” he said.
Al-Bashir made the remarks only two weeks before US President Donald Trump is due to decide whether or not to permanently lift all remaining sanctions.
Sudan, for its part, has consistently denied allegations that it is a supporter of terrorism.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
ERITREA NOT CISSA MEMBER:
Membership of CISSA is open to all Intelligence and Security Services of each African country. Currently fifty one (51) Intelligence and Security Services are signatories to the CISSA Constitutive Memorandum of Understanding and are thus Members of CISSA.
