No 20th birthday party for the DGRE

摘要

The DGRE external intelligence service, which was set up by President Denis Sassou Nguesso in 2001 to provide jobs for a number of army officers and should have the task of overseeing Congolese intelligence personnel operating outside the country, was wound up by decree 2020-109 on 9 April. General Hilaire Moko, the president's nephew and former head of the presidential security service, was chosen to formally shut it down. The service has been an empty shell for several years already, given that the country's intelligence services are now completely controlled by the National Security Council (CNS), headed by Jean- Dominique Okemba. Coincidentally or not, Colonel Pierre 'Mongoley' Mongo, a Gangoulou from Gamboma in northern Congo who for a long time headed the DRGE, was appointed roving ambassador to the CNS shortly before his service shut down.