Faruk Malik

Last updated
Faruk Malik
Born
Zanzibar
NationalityPakistani and/or British
Occupation State Research Bureau agent
Known forLeading spy of Ugandan President Idi Amin
SpouseSaeeda [1]

Faruk Malik [lower-alpha 1] was a Ugandan intelligence officer who served during the dictatorship of President Idi Amin in the 1970s. Working in the State Research Bureau, Malik reportedly oversaw dozens of spies, advised Amin on important matters, acquired foreign aid, and spied on Uganda's Asian community.

Contents

Biography

According to journalists Martha Honey and David B. Ottaway, Malik was a "Zanzibari of Pakistani origin". [2] Indian diplomat Madanjeet Singh concurred, describing him as Pakistani national. [3] In contrast, one of Amin's advisors, Bob Astles, claimed that Malik was a "Pakistani/British Asian" [4] and "London friend" of his. [5]

Malik rose to prominence while serving in the State Research Bureau, a Ugandan intelligence agency and secret police which operated during President Amin's rule (1971–1979). [2] According to Singh, Malik was Amin's "master spy". [1] Astles stated that Malik understood the President very well, [5] and that the two were "very close". [4] In this position, he played a major role in Uganda's Ministry of Information, overseeing "several dozen" other spies. [2] One of his main tasks was to spy on Uganda's expatriate and local Asian community. [2] [3] He also assessed and organized British newspaper clippings on Uganda. [4] According to Astles, Malik was supposed to keep Amin up-to-date on "hijacking developments" after the President gave shelter to a hijacked Airbus A300 jet airliner in 1976. [5]

In addition, Malik helped the Ugandan government in procuring foreign technology and experts. He signed a contract with the Harris Corporation to set up a satellite station in Arua; he personally profited from this deal. [2] Honey and Ottaway also claimed that Malik "singlehandedly" recruited about 400 Pakistani experts to support Amin's regime, [2] although Singh stated that Finance Minister Moses Ali played a crucial role in bringing Pakistani personnel to Uganda. [6] Overall, hundreds of Pakistanis were aiding the Ugandan government by 1978, providing crucial technical support in a military and civilian capacity. [7] [8]

When the Uganda–Tanzania War erupted in 1978, Malik and his associate Justice Mohamed Said attempted to bolster Amin's government. [9] He was among the last loyalists of the Ugandan government, [10] although both he as well as Said fled the country before the Fall of Kampala to Tanzanian-led troops in April 1979. The two Pakistanis managed to cross the border to Kenya, although their Mercedes-Benz cars were confiscated by Amin's guards for their own escape. [11]

Notes

  1. ↑ His name was also spelled "Farook". [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idi Amin</span> President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979

Idi Amin Dada Oumee was a Ugandan military officer and politician who served as the third president of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. He ruled as a military dictator and is considered one of the most brutal despots in modern world history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Republic of Uganda</span> Idi Amins rule in Uganda, 1971-1979

The Second Republic of Uganda existed from 1971 to 1979, when Uganda was ruled by Idi Amin's military dictatorship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uganda–Tanzania War</span> Conflict mainly fought between Uganda and Tanzania from October 1978 until June 1979

The Uganda–Tanzania War, known in Tanzania as the Kagera War and in Uganda as the 1979 Liberation War, was fought between Uganda and Tanzania from October 1978 until June 1979 and led to the overthrow of Ugandan President Idi Amin. The war was preceded by a deterioration of relations between Uganda and Tanzania following Amin's 1971 overthrow of President Milton Obote, who was close to the President of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere. Over the following years, Amin's regime was destabilised by violent purges, economic problems, and dissatisfaction in the Uganda Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fall of Kampala</span> Battle in the Uganda–Tanzania War, April 1979

The Fall of Kampala, also known as the Liberation of Kampala, was a battle during the Uganda–Tanzania War in 1979, in which the combined forces of Tanzania and the Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) attacked and captured the Ugandan capital, Kampala. As a result, Ugandan President Idi Amin was deposed, his forces were scattered, and a UNLF government was installed.

Mustafa Adrisi Abataki was a Ugandan military officer who served as the third vice president of Uganda from 1977 to 1979 and was one of President Idi Amin's closest associates. In 1978, after Adrisi was injured in a suspicious auto accident, troops loyal to him mutinied. Amin sent troops against the mutineers, some of whom had fled across the Tanzanian border, possibly contributing to the Uganda–Tanzania War. As the Ugandan war effort collapsed, Adrisi fled to Sudan where he claimed to retain the post of Vice President. He became briefly involved in the rebel activities of the Uganda National Rescue Front before returning from exile in 1987. He struggled with health problems in his later life and died in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Lukaya</span> 1979 battle of the Uganda–Tanzania War

The Battle of Lukaya was a battle of the Uganda–Tanzania War. It was fought between 10 and 11 March 1979 around Lukaya, Uganda, between Tanzanian forces and Ugandan government forces. After briefly occupying the town, Tanzanian troops and Ugandan rebels retreated under artillery fire. The Tanzanians subsequently launched a counterattack, retaking Lukaya and killing hundreds of Libyans and Ugandans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isaac Maliyamungu</span> High-ranking Ugandan military official under Idi Amin

Isaac Maliyamungu, also known as Isaac Lugonzo, was a military officer of the Uganda Army (UA) who served as one of President Idi Amin's most important officials and supporters during the Ugandan military dictatorship of 1971–79. Born in Zaire, Maliyamungu was one of the members of the 1971 coup that brought Amin to power, and was thereafter responsible for brutally suppressing dissidents throughout the country. Rising in the ranks, Maliyamungu amassed great power and earned a feared reputation. He was responsible for the mass murder of civilians and soldiers suspected of being disloyal to Amin.

The Battle of Tororo was a battle of the Uganda–Tanzania War that took place from 2 to 4 March 1979 at Tororo, Uganda and its surroundings. It was fought between Ugandan rebels loyal to Milton Obote and Uganda Army units loyal to President Idi Amin. In an attempt to destabilise Amin's rule and capture weapons for an insurrection, a group of guerrillas launched a raid from Kenya against Tororo, whose garrison partially mutinied and joined them after a short fight. Loyalist Ugandan military forces, most importantly its air force, launched a large-scale counter-attack and completely defeated the rebels after heavy fighting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Invasion of Kagera</span> Ugandan military action

In October 1978 Uganda invaded the Kagera Salient in northern Tanzania, initiating the Uganda–Tanzania War. The Ugandans met light resistance and in November President Idi Amin of Uganda announced the annexation of all Tanzanian land north of the Kagera River. The Tanzanians organised a counter-offensive later in November and successfully ejected the Ugandan forces from their country.

The Battle of Lira was one of the last battles in the Uganda–Tanzania War, fought between Tanzania and its Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) allies, and Uganda Army troops loyal to Idi Amin on 15 May 1979. The Tanzanian-led forces easily routed Lira's garrison of Amin loyalists, and then intercepted and destroyed one retreating column of Uganda Army soldiers near the town.

The Battle of Jinja was a battle of the Uganda–Tanzania War that took place on 22 April 1979 near and in the city of Jinja, Uganda between Tanzanian and allied Uganda National Liberation Front forces, and Ugandan troops loyal to Idi Amin. The Tanzanians and the UNLF men met slight resistance and captured Owen Falls Dam and the town of Jinja.

The Battle of Karuma Falls was one of the last battles in the Uganda–Tanzania War, fought between Tanzania and Uganda Army troops loyal to Idi Amin on 17 May 1979. Soldiers of the Tanzania People's Defence Force attacked Ugandan forces at the bridge over the Nile River at Karuma Falls. Tanzania's 205th Brigade was tasked with advancing from Masindi to Gulu, taking a route which passed over the Karuma Falls Bridge. The brigade assaulted the crossing on the morning of 17 May with tanks and artillery and one of its battalions ran over the bridge to attack the Ugandan positions. The Ugandans destroyed a TPDF tank, delaying the Tanzanians long enough to board buses and retreat to Gulu. The Tanzanians secured Karuma Falls before capturing Gulu several days later.

The State Research Bureau (SRB), initially the State Research Centre (SRC), was a Ugandan intelligence agency. Active from 1971 until 1979, it served as a secret police organisation for President Idi Amin's regime. The SRB retained numerous agents and maintained a wide network of informants.

The Uganda Army, also known as Uganda Armed Forces, served as the national armed forces of Uganda during the dictatorship of Idi Amin (1971–1979). It mostly collapsed during the Uganda–Tanzania War, but remnants continued to operate in exile from 1979. These pro-Amin rebel forces continued to be called the "Uganda Army" and maintained a semblance of cohesion until 1980, when they fully fractured into rival factions.

Dusman Abassi Sabuni was a Ugandan military officer. Born in Lira, Uganda, he became an officer in the Uganda Army following the completion of his secondary schooling. After Colonel Idi Amin's 1971 military coup, Sabuni quickly rose through the ranks and was made brigadier general and Minister of Industry. Sabuni fled the country in 1979 after Amin's overthrow during the Uganda–Tanzania War, but was detained by Kenyan authorities and sent back to Uganda. Sources disagree on the details of his later life, though it is known that he served as important rebel leader in the 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ali Fadhul</span> Ugandan military officer and government official

Ali Fadhul was a Ugandan military officer and convicted criminal who served as governor, minister and army chief of staff during the dictatorship of President Idi Amin. In course of his career, he also commanded the Simba Battalion of the Uganda Army (UA). He was one of Amin's last loyal followers during the Uganda–Tanzania War of 1978–1979. Following the conflict, Fadhul was arrested by the new Ugandan government, and convicted of murder. Sentenced to death, he spent 22 years in prison until he was pardoned by President Yoweri Museveni in 2009.

Operation Dada Idi was a military offensive conducted by Tanzania against the Ugandan government of Idi Amin and its Libyan as well as Palestinian allies in March and April 1979 during the Uganda–Tanzania War. The attack took place amid the disintegration of the Uganda Army, and thus encountered only sporadic and disorganised resistance. The operation resulted in the Tanzanian capture of Mpigi and several other locations around Kampala.

Foreign support played an important role for Uganda during the Uganda–Tanzania War of 1978–1979. Before this conflict, the Second Republic of Uganda under President Idi Amin had generally strained international relations. Accordingly, only a few states as well as non-state allies provided Uganda with substantial military support during the war, most importantly Libya under Muammar Gaddafi and the Palestine Liberation Organisation. The intervention of these two parties was regarded as crucial for Amin's ability to stay in power during the later stages of the war, even though they did not prevent Uganda's eventual defeat. However, there were many claims about other states and groups in Africa, the Arab world, Europe, and Asia covertly supplying Amin with materiel, soldiers, and money, although most of these remain unverifiable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1977 invasion of Uganda</span> Failed attempt to otherthrow Idi Amin

The 1977 invasion of Uganda was an armed attempt by Ugandan exiles to overthrow the government of President Idi Amin. The exiles were based in Kenya, organized as the "Uganda Liberation Movement", and enjoyed covert foreign support. A Ugandan intelligence agency and a member of the rebel group claimed that Israel was backing the insurgents, but this was not independently confirmed. The Ugandan government learned of the rebels' plans beforehand. The invasion consequently failed when the rebels were confronted and defeated by the Uganda Army after crossing the Kenya-Uganda border in October 1977. Amin stayed in power until being overthrown during the Uganda–Tanzania War.

Taban Lupayi, often just called Taban, was a high-ranking Sudanese-born Ugandan military officer during the dictatorship of Idi Amin. He rose to commander of the Marine Regiment and deputy chief of staff of the Uganda Army following the 1971 Ugandan coup d'état, and became a member of Amin's inner circle. Taban deserted his post during the Uganda–Tanzania War in 1979, fleeing to southern Sudan.

References

  1. 1 2 Singh 2012, p. 139.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Honey, Martha; Ottaway, David B. (28 May 1979). "Foreigners Aided Amin". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  3. 1 2 Singh 2012, p. 67.
  4. 1 2 3 Peterson & Taylor 2013, p. 76.
  5. 1 2 3 "The untold story of 1976 Entebbe raid". The Observer. 27 July 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  6. ↑ Singh 2012, p. 93.
  7. ↑ "Africa: The President is helpless". Africa. 1979. p. 37.
  8. ↑ MacManus, James (8 March 1979). "Amin relies on foreign aid to keep power". The Guardian. p. 8.
  9. ↑ Singh 2012, pp. 139–141.
  10. ↑ Singh 2012, p. 119.
  11. ↑ Singh 2012, p. 162.

Works cited

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.