In order to assist with counter-“terrorism” efforts and border security, the United Arab Emirates has dispatched military vehicles and other security equipment to Chad, the oil-rich Gulf nation announced on Sunday.
Niger’s neighbour Chad saw one of the last pro-Western leaders in the terror-racked Sahel region overthrown in a coup late last month.
The Emirati and Chadian flags were draped over two of the armoured vehicles in a photo published by the UAE’s official news agency WAM. The vehicles are produced by the Emirati company NIMR.
Without going into specifics, WAM reported that “the UAE has sent a shipment of military vehicles and security equipment to the Republic of Chad, to support its capabilities in combating terrorism and enhancing border protection.”
According to WAM, the two nations inked a military cooperation deal in June during a visit by General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, the president of Chad, who has been in office since his father, Idriss Deby Itno, passed away from wounds sustained while battling insurgents more than two years ago.
Several bilateral agreements were inked between the two nations, including the agreement on military cooperation, according to WAM.
According to N’Djamena, the armoured vehicles were “received within the framework of military cooperation between Chad and the Emirates.”
According to Daoud Yaya Brahim, the defence minister of Chad, “this equipment allows us to strengthen our defence forces in the framework of the struggle against terrorism.”
The UAE has been expanding its relations with African countries while simultaneously growing its own defence industry.
ECOWAS military leaders have agreed on a strategy for a potential intervention in reaction to the July 26 coup that ousted Mohamed Bazoum as president of Niger.
Although Chad is not a part of ECOWAS, a government spokeswoman there stated to AFP on July 30 that Deby had travelled to Niger “to see what he could bring to solving the crisis.”
