Cote D’Ivoire, also known as Ivory Coast, has received a batch of VN22B wheeled armored assault vehicles from China, according to a video posted on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. The video showed at least six of these vehicles arriving in the West African country, which is the second one after Senegal to acquire them.
The VN22B is a 6×6 armored vehicle developed by China North Industries Group Corporation Limited (Norinco), one of the largest defense contractors in China. It is armed with a 105mm gun that can fire various types of ammunition, including standard NATO rounds. The vehicle is designed to provide fire support to combat units and to engage enemy tanks and armored vehicles.
The VN22B has a number of features that enhance its protection and mobility, such as additional armor, automatic transmission, pneumatic suspension, hydraulic tailgate, and suspended seats. The vehicle can also operate in different terrains and climates, making it suitable for the diverse geography of Africa.
The delivery of the VN22B to Cote D’Ivoire is part of China’s growing military and economic presence in Africa, where it has been investing in infrastructure, trade, and security cooperation. China is also a major supplier of arms to the continent, accounting for about 17% of the total arms imports to Africa between 2015 and 2019, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
The acquisition of the VN22B by Cote D’Ivoire could also have implications for the internal security and politics of the country, which has experienced several episodes of violence and instability in the past two decades, most recently in 2020, when a disputed presidential election sparked protests and clashes that left dozens of people dead.
The VN22B could potentially enhance the capabilities and confidence of the Ivorian armed forces, which have been undergoing a reform and modernization process since 2017, with the support of the United Nations and other partners. However, it could also increase the risk of military intervention in politics, as well as exacerbate the existing tensions and grievances among different factions and groups within the country.
The Chinese VN22 6×6 wheeled armored Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) has also been exported to Senegal, as part of a larger deal which includes Turkish-made Otokar Cobra II and Nurol Ejder Yalçın.
Meanwhile, recently, Ivory Coast acquired a plethora of armoured vehicles comprising of DCD Springbuck SD vehicles from South Africa, International Armoured Group (IAG) Jaws armoured personnel carriers (APCs) from the United Arab Emirates, WZ-551 6×6 infantry fighting vehicles from China, and Nurol Makina Ilgaz-II armoured vehicles from Turkey, and The Armoured Group (TAG) BATT UMG and Terrier LT-79 armoured vehicles.
Also, 20 new Otokar Cobra II light armoured vehicles (LAVs), including an ambulance and a recovery vehicle were procured from Turkey.
The new armoured vehicles will help the Ivorian military effectively monitor its northernmost border which have seen jihadists attacks in recent years.