China-donated security equipment handed to Somali army

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on Thursday handed over security equipment donated by China to the Somali National Army (SNA) to help enhance security operations in the country.

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission (SRCC) for Somalia Francisco Madeira handed over three mobile kitchen units with a combined capacity to cook for 600 soldiers.

Other items include sleeping bags, mosquito nets, non-metallic bullet-proof helmets and tents; and will be particularly useful to SNA troops in the Forward Operating Bases.

"We believe that this is a symbolic gift from our partners the Chinese, which will go along way in alleviating the conditions of work, the conditions of operations of our Somali soldiers," Madeira said in a statement issued after the ceremony.

Somali Chief of Defence Forces Mohamed Ahmed Jimaale said the equipment would go along way to improve the living conditions of the SNA soldiers in their bases.

"This is very good equipment for the Somali National Army. We were in dire need of such equipment," Jimaale added during the handover of the equipment which coincided with celebrations to mark Africa Day.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)