Ahead of presidential poll, China sends military ware, Eritrean-trained forces to land in Mogadishu
GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The Chinese embassy in Mogadishu today handed over military vehicles and weapons to Somali National Army amid concerns the outgoing administration is ramping up military power during a transition period.
Somali National Army chief of defence staff Gen. Odowaa Rage received the equipment. According to an inventory seen by Goobjoog News, the consignment included 20 off-road vehicles, five water wagons, five refuelers and five high mobility field ambulances.
The consignment also included five General Purpose Containers whose contents remained unclear.
According to Marine Traffic website which monitors vessels at sea, the Cosco Kunlunshan vessel departed Mogadishu port on March 17 sailing with South direction. The Hong Kong registered bulk carrier weighs slightly over 31 tones.
Meanwhile authoritative sources have revealed to Goobjoog News that Villa Somalia is on the final stages to bringing back Somali soldiers who have been undergoing military training in Eritrea. According to one source, a military base within the city has been completed to receive and host the soldiers. Villa Somalia ran a clandestine operation headed by then head of intelligence Fahad Yasin from 2018 to mop up young men from Mogadishu and other parts of the country on account they were to be taken to Qatar to build the World Cup stadium. It later emerged that these young men running into thousands were secretly taken to Eritrea.
A UN rapporteur in 2021 confirmed that some of these military trainees were spotted in the historic town of Aksum in northern Ethiopian fighting alongside Federal forces. Villa Somalia has vehemently refuted the allegations.
These military build ups come ahead of Presidential elections which Mohamed Farmaajo is seeking re-election. Security analysts warn the new development could trigger further tensions by stocking fears that Farmaajo could be intend at using the forces to rig the elections.