Turkish government has donated several military vehicles including trucks and ambulances to Somali national army (SNA) to use for the fight against al-Shabaab militants.
Somali military backed by African union mission in Somalia (Amisom) has been fighting al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda affiliate group.
The allied forces managed to drove the fighters of al-Shabaab militant group out of many including the capital, Mogadishu following fierce fighting which lasted for days.
Al-Shabaab currently controls many towns and village in south and central Somalia.
Officials from Turkish embassy have handed over the keys of the vehicles to SNA army chief Gen. Odawa Yusuf Rageh, SNA chief in a handing over ceremony held in Somali capital, Mogadishu.
The event was also attended by Officials from Turkey’s military mission.
According to SNA army chief Gen. Odawa Yusuf Rageh, the vehicles will be used by Somalia’s Turkish trained elite military unit, Gorgor commandos.
“The donation will be helpful Somali military in their operations against terror group, Al-Shabaab. The vehicles will be specifically used by Gorgor commandos. We thank Turkish government for its support for Somalia,” Rageh said.
Rageh confirmed that Somali forces will intensify operations against al-Shabaab fighters in southern and central Somalia.
Somalia which once had possessed a formidable military in the continent during era of late Mohamed Siyad Barre has been struggling to rebuild its forces for the past twenty years.
