Photo/Somali Times
The Chinese government has donated military vehicles and military equipment to the Somali government, in a renewed push to boost the country’s war against terrorism. A shipment of military vehicles including Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) donated by the world’s second-largest power to the Somali National Army arrived in Mogadishu Friday. According to Anadolu Agency reported.
Apart from the vehicles, the Chinese Ambassador to Somalia Fei Shengchao handed over ambulances, water trucks, landmine detectors, and other military hardware from China to the Somali officials.
The Chinese diplomats noted that the military hardware is “intended to be used by the Somali military in the fight against Al-Shabaab – a terrorist group that operates from the Horn of Africa nation, and which has also been carrying out attacks in the neighboring countries,”
“The vehicles will be used by the Somali National Army and that China and Somalia have a deep relationship, thanking them for their support to the Armed Forces,”
Somalia’s Commander of the Armed Forces General Odowa Yusuf Rage who noted that the military support was “delivered to the Somali National Army in a timely manner.” He further indicated that there is other equipment on the way that will be delivered to Mogadishu by Beijing.
The Somali leaders welcomed. Amb Xue Bing’s visit &his appointment as Special Envoy for Horn of Africa Affairs. They noted that they looked forward to the positive role played by the Chinese Special Envoy in the region, amid talks revolving around the bilateral cooperation between China and Somalia in various other fields.