Turkey donates armoured vehicles to Somali troops

Turkey is helping Somalia in rebuilding the army as it trains the elite troops [File Photo]

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The government of Turkey has donated armored personnel cars which are mine-resistant to the Somali National Army [SNA], in a bid to help in the fight against Al-Shabaab militants, who have been causing havoc in the Horn of Africa nation.

Al-Shabaab seeks to topple the fragile UN-backed Somalia administration, but for years, it has been facing stiff resistance from an organized military, mainly the foreign troops serving in the African Union Mission in Somalia [AMISOM].

Hassan Ali Mohamed, Somalia's Defense Minister, and General Odowaa Yusuf Rageh, the Chief of Defense Forces, received the donations and were not short of praises to the Turkish government, which is also a key security partner of Somalia.

Turkish ambassador to Somalia Mahmet Yilmaz and other government officials were present during the handover. Turkey, besides helping Somalia through such donations, trains the elite Gorgor soldiers and Haramcad police officers.

General Odawa Yusuf Rageh thanked the Turkish government for its vital role in reviving the country’s army. According to him, the vehicles will allow the military to access some parts of the country where the Al-Shabaab has been controlling.

“I thank the Turkish government for the new armored personnel carriers and their continued support,” general Odawa said.

”Mine-resistant armored personnel carriers intended for Gorgor Commandos have been donated by The Turkish Government. These were handed over to the Ministry of Defence along with the Head of the Somali National Armed Forces, General Odowaa Yusuf Rage,” SNA said in a Twitter post.

The Turkish ambassador Mahmet Yilmaz said Turkey will continue to support Somalia. According to him, Ankara is keen to see a stable government in Mogadishu, following years of instability and terror.

The Turkish government has been able to focus on development and construction in Somalia without coming to direct conflict with other states in the region. This is in contrast to United Arab Emirates [UAE] and Qatar.

Turkey also built the biggest military in the Somali capital Mogadishu which has the capacity to train at least 1,500 soldiers at a time according to the Turkish officials.

Also, the donation comes in the week Somali National Army announced killing 279 Al-Shabaab militants in Lower Shabelle. According to the military, the gains have been made within the last two months.

GAROWE ONLINE