Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR) – In a recent decree dated April 24, 2024, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal has appointed Major General El Hadji Daouda Niang as the new General Delegate for National Intelligence (DNR), replacing Lieutenant General (2nd) Cheikh Sène. General Niang, previously serving as the Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Senegal to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, now takes the helm of the DNR, a key intelligence agency in Senegal.
The DNR, established in 2014 by decree 2014-940/PR, consolidates various intelligence services previously housed in different ministries and under the Presidency of the Republic. Reporting directly to the President, the DNR oversees the General Directorate of Internal Intelligence (DGRI) and the General Directorate of External Intelligence (DGRE).
The appointment of General Niang signals a new phase in the leadership of this critical intelligence agency, as Senegal continues to prioritize national security and intelligence gathering to protect its interests at home and abroad.
Major General El Hadj Douda Niang has held numerous positions within the Senegalese administration since 2020, including head of the anti-terrorism unit, Commander of the National School of Active Officers, Chief Cabinet of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Director General of Foreign Intelligence, and Inspector General of the Armed Forces. He has an impressive academic background.
According to the responsibilities outlined in decree 2014-940/PR, the DNR’s mission is to collect, analyze, and disseminate information regarding threats against the security and fundamental interests of the nation, both domestically and internationally. It also centralizes, cross-checks, analyzes, and transmits intelligence productions from other services to the President.
The creation of the DNR followed the dissolution of its predecessor services, including the Strategic Orientation Center (COS), the National Security Agency (ANS), and the Directorate of Documentation and External Security (DDSE).
