U.S. donates 24 armored vehicles to support allied troops in Somalia

Mogadishu, Somalia - U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley, commanding general of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), visited foreign partners in Mogadishu, Somalia, Aug. 3, 2022, to hand over 24 Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) at the ATMIS Headquarters.



By Staff Sgt. Dallin Wrye Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Djibouti Aug 17, 2022
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French translation below English version


Mogadishu, Somalia - U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley, commanding general of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), visited foreign partners in Mogadishu, Somalia, Aug. 3, 2022, to hand over 24 Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) at the ATMIS Headquarters.

The donation from the U.S. will help increase ATMIS capabilities in the fight against terrorism and those who seek to undermine the security and stability of Somalia.

“To support ATMIS Djiboutian contingency’s efforts in the fight against terrorism with our Somali partners, the United States is providing the 24 PUMA Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) and Harris Radio communication equipment to enable more frequent patrols, and transportation.” Shawley said. “The United States is also providing training in the effective usage of the APCs.”

Larry André, U.S. Ambassador to Somalia, said the delivery of the 24 APCs will enhance Somalia’s fight against violent extremists.

“This equipment will increase the ability of the Djiboutian contingent of ATMIS to protect Somalis from Al-Shabaab violence and extortion,” André said. “This is in line with the plans of His Excellency President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud and is keeping with the Somalia Transition Plan, which will see a steady increase in handover responsibilities to Somalia’s security forces.”

The U.S. is committed to supporting Somalia’s efforts to defeat Al-Shabaab and remains partnered with Djibouti to counter terrorist threats in the Horn of Africa. The APC’s will help protect military partners against rifle fire, anti-tank mines and homemade explosives.

“The expression of our support, amongst other ways, is the donation of these vehicles to help protect African Union forces, in this case Djibouti’s military contingent, as they travel the roads of Somalia which too often will be trapped by dangerous explosive devices put there to harm those who only seek to help Somalia,” said André.

The U.S. aims to help Somalis defend themselves and reduce the threat posed by Somalia-based global terrorist networks.

“On behalf of the African Union, it’s membership, and all of the ATMIS Troop Contributing Countries, including Djibouti and all the others since ATMIS is a collective effort of solidarity and support to the Somalia people, I would like to thank the government and the people of the United States for the generosity and steadfastness in supporting our presence in Somalia,” said Fiona Lortan, Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, in a Garowe Online article.


___________________Please read below for French translation__________________


Les États-Unis font don de 24 véhicules blindés pour soutenir les troupes alliées en Somalie


Mogadiscio, Somalie - Le général de division Jami Shawley, commandant de la Force opérationnelle interarmées combinée de la Corne de l'Afrique (CJTF-HOA), a rendu visite à des partenaires étrangers à Mogadiscio, en Somalie, le 3 août 2022, pour remettre 24 véhicules blindés de transport de troupes (APC) à la Mission de transition de l'Union africaine en Somalie (ATMIS) au quartier général de l'ATMIS. 

Le don des États-Unis contribuera à accroître les capacités d'ATMIS dans la lutte contre le terrorisme et ceux qui cherchent à saper la sécurité et la stabilité de la Somalie. 

"Pour soutenir les efforts du contingent djiboutien d'ATMIS dans la lutte contre le terrorisme avec nos partenaires somaliens, les États-Unis fournissent les 24 véhicules blindés de transport de troupes (APC) PUMA et l'équipement de communication radio Harris pour permettre des patrouilles plus fréquentes, et le transport." a ajouté M. Shawley. "Les États-Unis fournissent également une formation à l'utilisation efficace des APC". 

Larry André, ambassadeur des États-Unis en Somalie, a déclaré que la livraison des 24 APC renforcera la lutte de la Somalie contre les extrémistes violents. 

"Cet équipement augmentera la capacité du contingent djiboutien de l'ATMIS à protéger les Somaliens contre la violence et l'extorsion d'Al-Shabaab", a déclaré André. "Ceci est conforme aux plans de son Excellence le Président Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud et s'inscrit dans le cadre du plan de transition de la Somalie, qui verra une augmentation régulière du transfert des responsabilités aux forces de sécurité somaliennes." 

Les États-Unis s'engagent à soutenir les efforts de la Somalie pour vaincre Al-Shabaab et restent en partenariat avec Djibouti pour contrer les menaces terroristes dans la Corne de l'Afrique. Les APC aideront à protéger les partenaires militaires contre les tirs de fusils, les mines antichars et les explosifs artisanaux. 

"L'expression de notre soutien, entre autres, est le don de ces véhicules pour aider à protéger les forces de l'Union africaine, en l'occurrence le contingent militaire djiboutien, lorsqu'elles parcourent les routes de Somalie qui, trop souvent, seront piégées par de dangereux engins explosifs placés là pour nuire à ceux qui ne cherchent qu'à aider la Somalie", a déclaré M. André. 

Les États-Unis visent à aider les Somaliens à se défendre et à réduire la menace que représentent les réseaux terroristes mondiaux basés en Somalie. 

"Au nom de l'Union africaine, de ses membres et de tous les pays contributeurs de troupes ATMIS, y compris Djibouti et tous les autres, puisque ATMIS est un effort collectif de solidarité et de soutien au peuple somalien, je voudrais remercier le gouvernement et le peuple des États-Unis pour leur générosité et leur constance dans le soutien de notre présence en Somalie", a déclaré Fiona Lortan, représentante spéciale adjointe du président de la Commission de l'Union africaine, dans un article publié sur Garowe Online.

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