When we talk counterintelligence, names like CIA, FBI, Mossad, KGB, and MI5 immediately come to mind.
But hey, what about African counterintelligence? Ever thought about that? I bet 99% of you can't even name a single one from Africa, even if your life depended on it.
I wouldn't blame you if even your country's counterintelligence is a bit of a head-scratcher. Just kidding, I would. It can't be that bad.
Not to worry though, its only natural to remember and associate with what you hear and see on a daily basis.
Our screens are flooded with stories of foreign agencies, making the local ones feel like hidden gems. Plus, some foreign agencies have sneakily worked their way into our governments and societies, making us think they're practically gods.
But guess what? It's high time we turn the spotlight back home.
Let's dive into the world of African counterintelligence agencies.
To kick things off, I'm sharing a list of these agencies by country.
Here is a list of intel to overwhelm your buddies and family:
- Algeria: Department of Intelligence and Security (DRS)
- Angola: Military Intelligence and Security Service (Servico de Inteligencia e Seguranca Militar) (SISM)
- Benin: National Intelligence Agency (ANR)
- Botswana: Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DISS)
- Burkina Faso: General Directorate of External Documentation and Security (DGSE)
- Burundi: National Intelligence Service (Service National de Renseignement) (SNR)
- Cabo Verde (Cape Verde): National Intelligence and Security Service (SISE)
- Cameroon: Directorate General of External Research (DGRE)
- Central African Republic: Directorate-General for Documentation and External Security (DGSED)
- Chad: Agence nationale de securite(ANS)
- Comoros: National Documentation and Intelligence Agency (AND)
- Congo, Democratic Republic of the: National Intelligence Agency (ANR)
- Congo, Republic of the: Directorate General of External Documentation and Counterintelligence (DGDE)
- Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast): General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST)
- Djibouti: National Security Service (SN)
- Egypt: General Intelligence Service (GIS)
- Equatorial Guinea: National Intelligence and Security Agency
- Eritrea: National Security Agency (NSA)
- Eswatini (formerly Swaziland): Royal Eswatini Police Special Branch
- Ethiopia: National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS)
- Gabon: Directorate General of Documentation and External Security (DGSEE)
- Gambia: State Intelligence Services (SIS)
- Ghana: Bureau of National Investigations (BNI)
- Guinea: National Agency for Intelligence and Investigation
- Guinea-Bissau: State Intelligence Service (SIS)
- Kenya: National Intelligence Service (NIS)
- Lesotho: National Security Service (NSS)
- Liberia: National Security Agency (NSA)
- Libya: Internal Security Agency (ISA)
- Madagascar: Central Intelligence Service (CIS)
- Malawi: National Intelligence Bureau (NIB)
- Mali: Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DST)
- Mauritania: General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST)
- Mauritius: National Security Service (NSS)
- Morocco: General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST)
- Mozambique: State Intelligence and Security Service (SISE)
- Namibia: Namibian Central Intelligence Service (NCIS)
- Niger: National Intelligence Agency (ANR)
- Nigeria: National Intelligence Agency (NIA)
- Rwanda: National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS)
- Sao Tome and Principe: National Intelligence and Security Service (SINSE)
- Senegal: National Intelligence Agency (ANR)
- Seychelles: National Security Service (NSS)
- Sierra Leone: Office of National Security (ONS)
- Somalia: National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA)
- South Africa: State Security Agency (SSA)
- South Sudan: National Security Service (NSS)
- Sudan: General Intelligence Service (DIS)
- Tanzania: Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service (TISS)
- Togo: National Intelligence Agency (Agence nationale de renseignement) (ANR)
- Tunisia: National Guard Intelligence and Counterintelligence (RG)
- Uganda: Internal Security Organization (ISO)
- Zambia: Office of the President - Special Division
- Zimbabwe: Central Intelligence Organization (CIO)
In the next issues, we will delve into the thrilling world of spy games, espionage, and counterintelligence narratives. Your curiosity won't stand a chance against these gripping tales. Don't miss out – stay tuned and feel free to request any specific stories you're itching to explore!