French intelligence service faces scrutiny over leadership failures, scandals Report by Haber Global

Haber Global, a Turkish TV channel, has published a comprehensive report detailing significant shortcomings within France's Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE), the country’s joint foreign and military intelligence service.

The report highlights a series of failures, scandals, and operational setbacks that have led to widespread criticism of France's intelligence apparatus, particularly in the last two years, Caliber.Az reports citing local media.

Among the most prominent issues is the high turnover within the DGSE’s leadership. Four directors have been replaced in just two years, raising concerns about instability and internal dysfunction within the agency. The news outlet draws attention to several major incidents that have damaged the credibility of France’s intelligence services.

One of the most controversial cases involves accusations that the DGSE provided covert support to the regime of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in exchange for financial gain. The report suggests that the DGSE facilitated Gaddafi's financial backing of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s 2007 election campaign, which allegedly included a payment of 50 million euros.

It is claimed that the DGSE orchestrated a secret meeting between Sarkozy and Gaddafi at the Élysée Palace, where the Libyan leader was persuaded to tacitly endorse Sarkozy’s candidacy. This incident has fueled suspicions regarding the extent of France’s involvement in Libyan affairs during that period.

The DGSE has also been accused of failing in critical intelligence operations abroad. Notably, a network of French agents working under the guise of a security firm in Myanmar was uncovered, leading to the detainment of three individuals in Laukkai, northern Myanmar. This breach exposed serious vulnerabilities in the DGSE’s handling of espionage activities in South Asia.

Another significant setback for French intelligence occurred during the ongoing war in Ukraine. The DGSE was assigned to oversee the supply of arms and ammunition to Ukrainian forces, particularly to the 155th separate mechanised brigade. However, reports suggest that the Ukrainian military received far less support than was agreed upon. Key items such as anti-drone units and air defence systems were notably absent from the aid deliveries, leaving the Ukrainian brigade ill-equipped to counter Russian military threats, including kamikaze drones.

The DGSE is further criticized for concealing these issues from both the French government and Ukrainian authorities.

The report also touches on the case of Bernard Phelan, a French citizen detained in Iran in September 2024. Phelan, who was working under the cover of a travel company manager, was accused by Iranian authorities of espionage. While in custody, Phelan reportedly accused the DGSE of neglecting his case and failing to provide adequate support during his detention. His claims have raised further questions about the DGSE’s operational effectiveness and its ability to protect French citizens abroad.

By Vafa Guliyeva