The French intelligence officer Énora Chame talks about her book on Syria
May 31, 2022, 7:13 am

The French intelligence officer Énora Chame talks about her book on Syria

After her book (When the Shadow Advances, High-risk Mission in Syria) was published in late March on Amazon, Énora Chame, a pseudonym for a retired French intelligence officer on several French media outlets, talks about her experience in Syria as a UN worker to collect information about violations, war crimes and documentation in general.

In an interview on April 8 on France Info, Énora was asked:

- How can you compare the war in Ukraine and the war in Syria?

- Regarding the role of the international community on the suffering of populations, I find a significant and disturbing mirror effect.

One cannot help thinking, like the Syrian soldiers the Russian soldiers are also the hostages of their country. It has to be abominable for the conscripts not to even know why they are there.

However there is a big difference. in Syria, the government attacked and liquidated its own population and after a while, it became a civil war, everyone against everyone. In contrast, in Ukraine, the population came together as one man to fight the Russians.

In another interview on May 25 with CNEWS, the officer is asked:

- What are the commonalities between what you experienced in Syria and what is happening in Ukraine?

I recognize in Ukraine mechanisms of war I have already seen. In the early days of a war, propaganda, lies, and manipulation are real strategic issues. Each side tries to show the other is the absolute villain and works to have the favour of the public opinion or the international community and possibly the support.

If we did not stop the war immediately, it could take years. Peace does not come all of sudden in the middle of a war. We feel sorry for the losses on both sides, which are dramatic, but when we do not want losses, we make peace. At the start of a war, everyone thinks that with a little more war, a little more violence, they will be in the best position and they will be able to negotiate better.

- About the executions of civilians, mass graves, and rapes, how are unfortunately they part of a process of war?

A war is just a pile of crimes. When there is a war, these things absolutely happen. Then, since we are in a phase of propaganda and feelings, it is very difficult to know what really happened. I know how difficult the journalists' work is in Ukraine, which is what we, in Syria, found ourselves in.

We were seeing many dead people. You have to ask: Who killed them? How were they killed? Did they have weapons in their hands, were they moved? It is very hard to answer that. You make reports that are measured, give facts, and study possibilities but end up angering everyone.

The people who suffer did not understand we were not more committed to denouncing the massacres, but the UN, and France, are committed to being very cautious. We have seen staging and manipulation, in the wars of the Balkans, Iraq and the Middle East. Propaganda is not necessarily a lie. It is to show the information which interests your side. This is an integral part of warfare.

- So you did not work in the shadow, as one might think?

Absolutely! The work in the field was observed by everybody. The opponents, like Bashar al-Assad's services, knew very well where we were going and what we were seeing. There are many photos taken of us, far too many for that matter. The only thing they did not know was our conclusions. They had to be very measured because there was a permanent risk of being manipulated.

How does being surveilled feel?

It's an oppressive feeling. It feels like being hunted.

- Doesn't acting for the UN provide greater security than operating undercover for an army or a government?

A UN mission is normally not attacked, you are not shot at, you are not tried to stick IEDs (improvised explosive devices) under the car... I say that, but for the current UN mission in the Sahel is really in danger too. It all depends on the type of mission you are in. Ours was extreme, to the point that we were stripped of our mandate after four months.

The UN considered we were in far too much danger and it would be impossible to stop the course of things. The violence directed against us, and from all sides, was amplified by the accusations made against us of playing into the other's hands. The biggest difficulty was leaving people, knowing they were going to be tortured.

https://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/europe/manifestations-en-ukraine/guerre-en-ukraine-des-points-communs-avec-le-conflit-en-syrie_5069857.html

- Your mission was to collect evidence of executions, and torture, take photos of victims and listen to testimonies. What was the goal?

We found ourselves very distraught. When we were deployed, it was not a question of observing all that, but of monitoring a ceasefire, a truce. We finally had to document abuses. Our mission has evolved by itself. We were the only ones to report what the Syrians were going through. We collected hundreds, thousands of names of people who disappeared. It can certainly be used, potentially for trials, memory work, or recorded for history. We need to document the machinery that is being put in place. E.g. Al-Qaeda is there for such and such reasons. People don't want them for such and such reasons. We feel that things are going to turn out badly for such and such reasons...

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.