Draft:Saladin Security

Saladin security was founded on 19 May 1978 by David Walker, in London.^[2] The firm has worked in different countries, providing training and protection. It is known to have operated in Afghanistan, Oman, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Kenya and South Sudan.^[3] The company has operated in countries using a 'colonial' model, making extensive use of local guards and employees for lower level roles, such as basic guard duties, while foreigners, normally British employees, undertake higher profile roles such as protections of embassies and VIPs, and make up the management team.^[4]

Saladin Security had connections within the SAS. Founder David Walker is a former SAS officer. Keenie Meenie Services and Saladin's shared office was based close to an SAS location in London, and they were known to recruit ex-SAS men.^[5][3]

The company took part in the training of the Omani armed forces and the aiding of the civilian populace in the regions affected by the Dhofar rebellion. They provided training for Omani government forces working alongside British officers, and were the backbone of the Omani Air Force during its initial years, maintaining its aircraft and providing experienced pilots to fly them.^[6][7][8][9]

Allegedly, Saladin, operating as a subsidiary of Keenie Meenie Services, provided training to Afghan Mujahideen fighters within Afghanistan before and during the Soviet invasion.^[10]

Saladin operated extensively in Afghanistan,^[11] often in Kabul, providing protection to VIP's and embassies, for example protecting the Canadian embassy, the European Union mission and the UNDP. They had over 2000 local employees working in the country in 2007. Saladin also provided protection for the EU in Pakistan. ^[12][13][4]

The company had been involved in many operations in continental Africa, including working for oil companies in Kenya and Ghana. The company used to work in South Sudan under the subsidiaries Veteran Security Services and Nile Development initiative. Veteran Security Services partnered with the government to provide work to demobilised rebels, however the company was sold in 2014, after the outbreak of civil war in the country in 2013, despite having a near monopoly on the oil industry in the country, according to analysts at Intelligence Online.^[14]

The Somalian government granted a company partially owned by Saladin, Somalia-Fishguard Ltd., control over the Somali fishing industry, with power to distribute fishing licenses and control fish stocks. Saladin Security provided security to this company.^[12] However, the company was marginalised by the Somali Government and did not issue any fishing permits. There were calls for the re-brokering or scrapping of the deal with the company due to it's overly large scope, and questions over Saladin's involvement in the deal.^[15] The company was dissolved in 2014.^[16]

The company continues to offer various services, including close protection, security management and training in several countries, with a focus on the Middle East and Africa. As of 2019, they employed 33 staff and had an annual turnover of over £2 million.^[17][3]

Saladin Security has come under increasing scrutiny for its relationship with what some regard as its predecessor, Keenie Meenie Services (KMS) - also founded by David Walker. However the company denies any close connection.^[3] A Metropolitan Police inquiry was launched to investigate the actions of KMS employees in Sri Lanka in 2020.^[18]

The controversy relates to alleged war crimes carried out in Sri Lanka against the Tamil minority by KMS forces during the Sri Lankan civil war. Helicopter gunships were reported to have indiscriminately killed civilians while supporting the Sri Lankan government's counter-insurgency effort. These events occurred despite the British Government's knowledge that the campaign was attracting criticism for increasing human rights abuses; Thatcher however did not raise any objection to KMS's presence in the country. The company had links to the British government - Conservative defence minister Archie Hamilton became a director of Saladin shortly after leaving government. It is likely that government involvement could have ended KMS's involvement in the conflict rapidly.^[3][19][20] Patrick Mercer, another conservative MP, had expenses paid for by Saladin on a visit to Afghanistan and Pakistan.^[21]

Saladin Security Services have denied that they had any involvement in these war crimes, and attempted to disassociate themselves with KMS.^[3] However, evidence emerged to suggest that the two companies did have close ties. From 1983 until 1988, when KMS was dissolved, the two operated out of the same building. As well as this, there were close managerial ties between the two companies. Walker was a director of Saladin whilst also working for KMS, and is a Person with Significant Control of the company as of November 2025.^[3][22][23] The UN wrote to Saladin, noting concern at the apparent links between KMS and Saladin.^[24] Saladin's website also stated that KMS was the predecessor of itself from 2011 to 2018, and Walker said that Saladin had succeeded KMS in correspondence with Sri Lanka's Special Task Force in 2017.^[3][25]

Saladin responded to these allegations claiming that Walker did work for both companies but was not a director of Saladin. They also claimed that although the firms worked side-by-side, they undertook entirely different role, and stated that Saladin adhered to the 2008 Montreux Document and was a founding member of the International Code of Conduct Association. As well as this, in a letter to the UN high commissioner for human rights, Saladin claimed that it had cooperated willingly with the inquiry, and its training taught employees a philosophy of winning hearts and minds.^[26][3][25]