Mekelle፡ 12 August 2024 (Tigray Herald)
Somaliland orders Egyptian library in Hargeisa to close.
Centre provides language courses, is public diplomacy arm of Egyptian state.
News comes against backdrop of escalating regional tensions with Ethiopia and Egypt at daggers’ drawn…
The Egyptian government’s so-called “cultural library” in Hargeisa, Somaliland, was nothing more than a front for espionage and subversion as part of Cairo’s broader strategy to destabilise the Horn of Africa. Far from being accessible to the public, this facility was fortified with multiple layers of physical and technological security, designed not to serve the local community, but to keep it out. High fences, anti-climb barriers, vehicle blockers, and intrusion detection systems surrounded the compound, effectively transforming it into a heavily guarded fortress. Inside, an elaborate surveillance network featuring high-definition CCTV cameras, thermal and night-vision equipment, drone surveillance, and facial recognition systems operated round the clock, monitoring every movement in and around the premises.
Access to the library was restricted through biometric scanners, smart card readers, and mantrap entrances, ensuring only authorised personnel, likely involved in covert operations, could enter. Even more telling were the internal and cybersecurity measures in place, including bug-sweeping devices, RF jammers, and encrypted firewalls, all designed to counter any outside attempt to monitor activities or breach the facility.
The presence of armed security personnel, and blast-proof windows further indicates the facility’s true nature—an espionage hub rather than a cultural center.
This covert operation fits within Egypt’s wider destabilisation agenda in the Horn of Africa, raising serious concerns about its activities and intentions in the region.
The Egyptian Cultural Centre in Hargeisa was oddly built right next to the Somaliland’s presidential palace. It. was essentially an eavesdropping centre for Egyptian intelligence services.
