UAE provides military and security assistance to Niger neighbour Chad

UAE provides military and security assistance to Niger neighbour Chad

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced that it has delivered a shipment of military vehicles and security equipment to Chad, a landlocked country in Central Africa. The UAE said that the assistance was aimed at supporting Chad’s efforts to combat terrorism and protect its borders.

The UAE’s official news agency WAM reported on Sunday that the shipment included several armored vehicles manufactured by NIMR, an Emirati company that specializes in producing military and security vehicles. The vehicles were painted in desert colors and displayed the flags of the UAE and Chad. WAM did not specify the types or quantities of the vehicles or the other security equipment.

(Read Also: France backs ECOWAS in restoring democracy in Niger after military coup)

UAE and Chad share common interests and challenges

The UAE and Chad have established close ties in recent years, based on their common interests and challenges in the region. The UAE has been a major investor and donor in Chad, supporting its development projects, humanitarian needs, and peacekeeping operations. The UAE has also been a strategic partner of Chad in the fight against terrorism, especially against Boko Haram, an Islamist militant group that operates in the Lake Chad Basin.

(Read Also: France Demands Military Junta in Niger Step Back from “Adventurism,” Citing Regional Stability as At Stake)

The UAE and Chad are also members of the Saudi-led coalition that is involved in the war in Yemen, where they have been supporting the internationally recognized government against the Houthi rebels. The UAE has provided military training and equipment to Chadian forces, as well as logistical and intelligence support.

UAE’s assistance comes amid political turmoil in Niger

The UAE’s assistance to Chad comes at a time when its neighbor Niger is facing political turmoil and uncertainty, following a military coup that toppled its democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum. The coup leaders, who call themselves the National Committee for the Restoration of Democracy and State (CNRDS), said they acted to end a “serious crisis” and restore “social cohesion” in the country.

(Read Also: Niger Braces for Next Move as Deadline to Reinstate President Counts On)

Niger is one of the poorest and most unstable countries in the world, facing multiple security and humanitarian challenges. The country is also part of the Sahel region, which is plagued by terrorism, violence, and instability. The UAE has expressed its concern over the situation in Niger and called for a peaceful and democratic resolution of the conflict.