Turkey donates military vehicles to Somali National Army

The Somali National Army (SNA) received military vehicles, including trucks and ambulances, donated by Turkey on Tuesday as part of Ankara’s support for the nation’s military.

Senior military officials received the donation after a ceremony at the Turkish Embassy in the capital of Mogadishu. Officials from Turkey’s military mission, Turk-Som, also attended the ceremony and announced that Ankara will continue to support the SNA, the government and people of Somalia.

SNA army chief Gen. Odawa Yusuf Rageh told the media that Turkish military support is key in fighting Somali-based al-Qaeda affiliated group al-Shabaab.

Somalia’s elite military unit, Gorgor commandos, will use the vehicles and the ambulances. Turkey has been providing training and military assistance to Somalia’s military to help build that nation’s military capacity.

Turkey is the first country to train Somali female police commandos after the first patch of officers arrived in Mogadishu in September. They joined a special forces unit, Harmacad (Cheetah), after they underwent special training in Turkey.