The UAE has sent a shipment of military vehicles and security equipment to the Republic of Chad, to support its capabilities in combatting terrorism and enhancing border protection.
This initiative falls within the framework of the strong ties between the UAE and Chad at various levels, which have resulted in the signing of several bilateral agreements, including a military cooperation agreement in June during the official visit of Mahamat Idriss Deby, Chairman of Chad’s Transitional Military Council, to Abu Dhabi.
The vehicles are the Emirati-made Nimr armoured vehicles. The shipment included at least six armored vehicles of the MCAV-20 Calidius model, manufactured by the Emirati company NIMR, with the Chadian and Emirati flags visible on two of these vehicles.
The UAE, which has been developing its own defense industry, has also been increasing its engagement with African nations.
Rashid Saeed Al Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to Chad, delivered the supplies’ shipment to Lieutenant General Daoud Yahya Brahim, Chad’s Minister of Defence, in the presence of the Chief of the General Staff of the Chadian Army, the Chief of the Strategic Reserve Forces of the Chadian Army, and high-ranking Chadian military officials.
The Chadian Minister of Defence expressed his country’s appreciation for the UAE’s ongoing support, which will contribute to restoring peace and stability in the region, stressing that military cooperation plays a key role in enhancing security and efforts to overcome challenges.
The military cooperation pact was one of several bilateral agreements signed between the two countries.
N’Djamena confirmed that it had “received armored vehicles in the framework of military cooperation between Chad and the Emirates.”
“This equipment allows us to strengthen our defense forces in the framework of the struggle against terrorism,” Chad’s Defense Minister Daoud Yaya Brahim told the media.
Before now, the UAE had provided armoured vehicles to Chad. In June 2021, to better handle the rebellion in Chad, Idriss Déby -leader of a new Transitional Military Council (CMT) placed an order for sixty armoured vehicles made in the United Arab Emirates.
The armoured vehicles are the Terrier LT-79 built completely on Toyota 79 chasis.
Chad is seeking alternative arms suppliers different from the usual Eastern bloc namely Ukrainian and Russian to modernize its capabilities.
Recent Chadian military procurement highlights the policy of pivoting from Eastern Europe’s sphere of influence in the area of military equipment.
The country recently acquired 30 heavily upgraded Type 59G main battle tanks from China to supplement the outdated Russian-made T-55 main battle tanks in use on the frontline.
Chad is a key power in central Africa and a longtime Western ally against rebel fighters and terrorism across the Sahel region.