The Federal Government has received 68 armored vehicles from Qatar that are set to boost the capability of the country’s forces especially in the fight against al Shabaab. Officials from Doha handed over 68 armored vehicles to Somali Defense minister, Hassan Ali Mohamed and chief of the general staff, General Dahir Adan Elmi Indho Qarshe during a ceremony held at the Mogadishu port.
The donation was preceded a top-level meeting with Doha and Mogadishu officials that reinforced Qatar as a partner to Somalia in her quest for stability and fight against jihadists affiliated to both al Qaeda and ISIS.
The 68 armored vehicles come at a time when the Horn of Africa nation has vowed to root out al Shabaab militants in the country as well as dismantle the terror networks that pivot attacks in the larger East African region. Furthermore, the donation has been received a few days after al Qaeda affiliated Al Shabaab conducted an attack in neighboring Kenya’s upscale complex killing 21 people.