US gifts six Puma M36 Mk 6 APCs to Somalia

United States Africom Command (AFRICOM) delivered six Puma M36 Mk 6 armoured vehicles to complement Somali security forces in the fight against al-Shabaab.

The Puma M36 Mk 6 armoured vehicles and it’s associated equipment were turned-over to SNA-Danab forces July 6 in a ceremony attended by leaders in the Somali Defense Forces.

The Danab Brigade (or “Lightning Brigade”) is a highly trained Somali National Army infantry/commando force.

Since 2020, the United States have been providing close quarter combat training to the Danab forces in Mogadishu, Somali capital.

The Somali army, with support of peacekeepers under the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom), has been waging an intense operations in Hirshabelle and Galmudug States in Central Somalia to dislodge the al-Shabbab jihadists ahead of elections in the coming 3 months.

Meanwhile, last year the United States planned to deliver at least 100 light combat vehicles to Somalia in order to support it’s war against Al-Shabaab and counter Turkish growing influence in the country says a Somalia security experts.