Ivory Coast, usually acknowledged as Cote D’Ivoire, lately acquired a cargo of Chinese language-built VN22B wheeled armored assault automobiles. Proof of this occasion appeared in a video, shared on Weibo, a common Chinese language social media platform, exhibiting not less than six armored automobiles arriving on this West African nation. Ivory Coast is the second African nation, following Senegal, to obtain these automobiles from China.
Engineered by China North Industries Group Company Restricted [Norinco] – a serious protection trade participant in China – the VN22B is a 6×6 armored automobile, showcasing a 105mm gun able to firing a number of ammunition, together with normal NATO rounds. This armored assault automobile is crafted to offer hearth assist for fight items and chase away enemy tanks and armored automobiles.
Sporting a host of protecting and mobility augmenting options resembling added armor, automated transmission, pneumatic suspension, hydraulic tailgate, and suspended seats, the VN22B is designed to adapt to various terrains and local weather circumstances. This versatility makes it well-fitted to the varied panorama of Africa.
The acquisition of the VN22B by Ivory Coast validates China’s increasing army and financial footprint in Africa, a area the place it’s more and more investing in infrastructure and commerce together with safety partnerships. Current information from the Stockholm Worldwide Peace Analysis Institute [SIPRI] reveals that almost 17% of complete arms imports to Africa from 2015 to 2019 got here from China.
What’s price noting is that Cote D’Ivoire’s acquisition of the VN22B may probably affect future inside safety and political developments within the nation. The nation has grappled with a number of situations of violence and political upheaval over the past twenty years, most notably in 2020. A contentious presidential election final yr provoked protests and violent altercations, leading to quite a few fatalities.
Whereas the VN22B may bolster the capacities and assertiveness of the Ivorian army forces, at the moment present process reform and modernization since 2017 underneath the steering of the United Nations and different allies, there’s additionally a potential threat. This might escalate the potential for army interference in politics and will deepen present divisions and animosity amongst completely different factions and teams within the nation.
Aside from Cote D’Ivoire, the Chinese language VN22 6×6 wheeled armored infantry combating automobiles have been exported to Senegal as a part of a extra in depth deal encompassing Turkish-made Otokar Cobra II and Nurol Ejder Yalçın armored automobiles.
Just lately, the Ivory Coast has fortified its defenses, investing in an in depth vary of armored automobiles from throughout the globe. The brand new additions to their fleet embrace DCD Springbuck SD automobiles from South Africa, Worldwide Armoured Group [IAG] Jaws armored personnel carriers [APCs] from the United Arab Emirates, WZ-551 6×6 infantry combating automobiles from China, Nurol Makina Ilgaz-II armored automobiles from Turkey, and automobiles from The Armoured Group [TAG] BATT UMG and Terrier LT-79.
In one other strategic acquisition, the nation sought to reinforce its mild armored automobiles, procuring 20 new Otokar Cobra II fashions from Turkey. Additionally included on this buy was an ambulance and a restoration automobile.
These additions will likely be essential for the Ivorian army’s protection endeavors, particularly for monitoring their northern border. This space has lately been a hotbed for jihadist assaults, thus underlining the significance of those armored automobiles for efficient border surveillance.
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