The Chinese government has donated military equipment to Somalia in an effort to support the weak Federal government battle against the extremist militants.
Corresponding local sources reported that the military vehicles, including armored personnel carriers for the Somali National Army, arrived in Mogadishu on March 18.
The Chinese Ambassador to Somalia, Fei Shengchao, handed over the military equipment that also included water trucks, landmine detectors, ambulances among other equipment to Somalia’s security authorities.
According to Chinese representatives, the military hardware is being given to the Somali National Army (SNA) for use in fighting terrorist groups, particularly Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist group that has escalated it activities in Somalia and neighboring countries.
Friday’s gesture, according to the Somali Defense Minister, demonstrates the “deep relationship,” between the two countries and that Somalia “thanks them (the Chinese) for their support to the local Armed Forces.”
SNA commander General Odowa Yusuf Rage noted that China’s military support came at the right time, underlining that terrorist operations have surged in Somalia recent weeks before March presidential elections.
Al-Shabaab seems bolstered by its determination to disrupt the ongoing electoral process, according to African Union Commission for Somalia special representative Francisco Madeira, also highlighting on increased terrorist activities from across the regions of Somalia.
