Somalia: In the midst of brutal clashes, Italy sends thirty old armored vehicles

Somalia , a former Italian colony, finds itself experiencing a very complex 2025, following the start of the rebels' " Shabelle " offensive last February, which has put the forces of the legitimate government and the militias that support it, as well as the African Union and US forces that arrived to assist, under pressure.

Somalia is a hotbed of conflict, where the relentless fight against extremist groups such as Al-Shabaab and ISIS-Somalia defines daily life. The period between June 28 and July 5, 2025 painted a stark picture of this battle. Somali forces, despite achieving significant tactical victories , such as the elimination of a fearsome Al-Shabaab commander , Abdi Jabbar , who specialized in explosives and was responsible for devastating attacks, remain tragically dependent on international aid.

US-led AFRICOM airstrikes are a constant, pounding militant positions and attempting to disrupt their networks. Yet, Al-Shabaab, in a reckless move, has launched the “Shabelle 2025 Offensive″ or “Operation Ramadan,” aiming to recapture territory and even tighten its grip on the capital, Mogadishu. This offensive is a direct and brutal response to the perceived weaknesses of the African Union peacekeeping mission, AUSSOM, which is facing a dire financial crisis .

AUSSOM , the successor to the previous ATMIS mission, is on the brink . With a staggering funding gap and millions of euros in arrears to pay, its operational capacity is undermined at its roots . The European Union, historically a pillar of support, now seems to be turning its back , drastically reducing funding due to “changing geopolitical priorities”, while the US, which intervened directly in both February and June, is less generous financially. A tragic accident recently saw an AUSSOM helicopter crash in Mogadishu, causing deaths and injuries and exploding ammunition on board: a painful symbol of the precarious conditions in which these forces operate.

So, given the situation, any help is welcome by the Somali forces, and Italy has decided to contribute with some not-so-new armored vehicles.

Italy's Gift: Thirty Good Old Men Armored for a Never-Ending Conflict?

In this scenario, Italy decides to send some old, but still good, armored vehicles : Italy is preparing to send about thirty old PUMA 4×4 armored vehicles to the Somali armed forces. These vehicles, despite having been designed for defense and support, have been officially declared “obsolete” by the Italian Army, dating back to the 90s and no longer responding to “ modern operational needs ”. Their withdrawal from active service was motivated by the “lack of adequate protection capabilities for current threats”, which, translated for non-military, means that

Italy, through a government decree, will give away these armored vehicles free of charge , a “gift” of weapons materials declared obsolete. The Foreign Affairs and Defense Committees of the Chamber of Deputies have given their approval, invoking the military code and a resolution of the United Nations Security Council revoking the embargo on the sale of weapons to Somalia.

Vehicles no longer considered suitable in Europe therefore end up in Africa, in a very harsh combat environment. The hope is that, despite their “obsolescence”, they can still provide a vital margin of protection to the Somali forces fighting on the front lines, in a conflict that seems to know no end. Old is better than nothing, but will it be enough?

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The article Somalia. In the midst of brutal clashes Italy sends thirty old armored vehicles comes from Scenari Economici .

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This is a machine translation of a post published on Scenari Economici at the URL https://scenarieconomici.it/somalia-blindati-italia-crisi-shabaab/ on Sat, 05 Jul 2025 09:24:16 +0000.