Adnan Khashoggi’s Mount Kenya Safari Club, from which the alliance derives its name. Attribution: Collectie Wereldmuseum (v/h Tropenmuseum), part of the National Museum of World Cultures / CC BY-SA 3.0.
The Safari Club stands out as a unique and intriguing chapter in the shadowy world of international espionage. Formed in 1976, this covert alliance of intelligence services operated at a time when the United States Congress had imposed significant limitations on the CIA’s power, restricting its ability to carry out covert operations and influence global events. It is important to note that this Safari Club is distinct from the well-known luxury hunting and safari organization. The Safari Club’s clandestine operations across Africa played a crucial role in shaping the geopolitical landscape of the continent during the Cold War.
Origins and Formation
The Safari Club was born out of necessity and shared interests among its founding members: pre-revolutionary Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and France. The alliance was initiated by Count Alexandre de Marenches, the head of France’s external intelligence agency, SDECE. The group’s name was derived from the exclusive Mount Kenya Safari Club, where the initial meetings took place.
The formation of the Safari Club was driven by the need to counter Soviet influence in Africa. The strict oversight imposed on the CIA by the United States Congress created a vacuum in intelligence operations. The Safari Club aimed to fill this gap by conducting covert operations to support anti-communist movements and governments across the continent.
The original charter of the Safari Club begins: “Recent events in Angola and other parts of Africa have demonstrated the continent’s role as a theater for revolutionary wars prompted and conducted by the Soviet Union, which utilizes individuals or organizations sympathetic to, or controlled by, Marxist ideology.”
Key Members and Structure
The original charter of the Safari Club was signed by the intelligence chiefs of the five founding countries:
France: Alexandre de Marenches, Director of the SDECE
The Service de Documentation Extérieure et de Contre-Espionnage (SDECE) was France’s external intelligence agency. It was responsible for gathering intelligence outside of France and conducting covert operations. Under de Marenches’ leadership, the SDECE played a significant role in countering Soviet influence during the Cold War.
Saudi Arabia: Kamal Adham, Director of the GIP
The General Intelligence Presidency (GIP), also known as the Mukhabarat, is Saudi Arabia’s primary intelligence agency. It focuses on both domestic and international intelligence gathering and counter-terrorism efforts. Kamal Adham was instrumental in establishing strong ties with other intelligence agencies, including the CIA.
Egypt: General Kamal Hassan Ali, Director of the Mukhabarat
The Mukhabarat is Egypt’s General Intelligence Directorate. It is responsible for national security, counterespionage, and intelligence operations both within Egypt and abroad. General Kamal Hassan Ali was a key figure in Egypt’s intelligence community and played a crucial role in the country’s foreign policy during the Cold War.
Morocco: General Ahmed Dlimi, Director of the DGED
The Direction Générale des Études et de la Documentation (DGED) is Morocco’s external intelligence agency. It focuses on gathering intelligence related to national security and foreign threats. General Ahmed Dlimi was known for his strategic acumen and played a significant role in Morocco’s intelligence operations.
Iran: General Nematollah Nassiri, Director of the SAVAK
The Sazeman-e Ettela’at va Amniyat-e Keshvar (SAVAK) was Iran’s secret police and intelligence service under the Shah’s regime. General Nematollah Nassiri was a close ally of the Shah and played a pivotal role in maintaining the regime’s control. It continued to operate until the Islamic Revolution in 1979, when it was dissolved by Iranian prime minister Shapour Bakhtiar.
Saudi Arabia offered financial backing, France contributed sophisticated technology, while Egypt and Morocco provided military equipment and personnel. The alliance also maintained informal connections with the United States, South Africa, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), and Israel. The Safari Club’s headquarters were established in Cairo, and its organization included a secretariat, a planning wing, and an operations wing.
Operations and Impact
The Safari Club’s operations were diverse and far-reaching. One of the notable achievements of the Safari Club was its successful military intervention in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) in response to an invasion from Angola. This intervention, known as the Shaba I conflict, took place in 1977 when the Front for the National Liberation of the Congo (FNLC) invaded the Shaba Province from Angola. The Safari Club orchestrated a French airlift of Moroccan and Egyptian troops into the war zone, which turned the tide of the conflict and successfully repelled the FNLC.
Additionally, the Safari Club provided arms to Somalia during the Ogaden War against Ethiopia. This conflict erupted in 1977 when Somalia attempted to gain control over the Ogaden region of Ethiopia, which was ethnically Somali. The Safari Club backed Somalia after Cuba and the USSR sided with Ethiopia
In addition to military support, the Safari Club engaged in secret diplomacy to promote anti-communist agendas. One of the most significant outcomes of the Safari Club’s secret diplomacy was its role in the events leading up to the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty. The alliance facilitated communication and negotiations between Egypt and Israel, which eventually led to the historic Camp David Accords and the signing of the peace treaty on March 26, 1979. This treaty marked the first time an Arab country officially recognized Israel and established a framework for peace in the Middle East.
The Safari Club’s activities extended beyond Africa, reflecting its global ambitions to counter Soviet influence. Its activities began to wind down after the Iranian Revolution in 1979, which led to significant changes in the geopolitical landscape and the eventual dissolution of the group.
Legacy and Controversy
The Safari Club’s legacy is a complex one. On one hand, it succeeded in filling the void left by the CIA’s constrained operations and contributed to significant geopolitical shifts in Africa. On the other hand, its clandestine nature and the involvement of various authoritarian regimes have sparked debates about the ethical implications of its actions.
The alliance’s operations were shrouded in secrecy, and much of what is known today comes from declassified documents and investigative journalism. The Safari Club’s story serves as a reminder of the intricate and often murky world of intelligence operations during the Cold War.
Final Thoughts
The Safari Club was a covert alliance that played a pivotal role in shaping the geopolitical landscape of Africa in the late 20th century. Its formation was a direct response to the limitations imposed on the CIA by the United States Congress, and its operations had far-reaching consequences. While its legacy is debated, the Safari Club remains a fascinating example of international intelligence collaboration during a tumultuous period in history.