Italy Donates VM-90P Armoured Vehicles to Somalia Police

• Italy is donating six VM-90P armoured vehicles, formerly used by the Carabinieri, to the Somali police force.
• The transfer, valued at over 170,000 euros, was approved by Italian parliamentary committees on July 29 and will not add costs to Italy's defence budget.
• The VM-90Ps, declared obsolete due to age and maintenance, were replaced by newer vehicles and lack protection against modern threats like IEDs.
• The donation falls under a bilateral Italy-Somalia defence cooperation agreement, active since 2016, and is permitted by Italy's Military Code for transfers to developing countries.
• This is part of ongoing Italian support for Somalia's security sector strengthening, which includes previous equipment transfers and a pending shipment.

The legal basis for such transfers is well-established within Italy's Military Code.

Italy has finalized the transfer of six VM-90P armoured vehicles, previously operated by the Italian Carabinieri, to the Somali police force. This significant equipment transfer, valued at over 170,000 euros (approximately $198,000), received parliamentary endorsement on July 29. Both the Foreign Affairs and Defence committees of Italy's Chamber of Deputies and Senate granted their approval just before the parliamentary summer recess, paving the way for the donation.

The Italian Defence Ministry has confirmed that this donation will not incur any additional expenses for its defence budget. The VM-90P vehicles, which entered Italy's logistics cycle between 1996 and 2004, have been officially declared out of service by the Carabinieri Logistics Inspectorate. Their decommissioning stems from their age, high maintenance requirements, and limited operational capabilities, having been progressively replaced by the more modern VTLM Lince light multirole tactical vehicles.

Italian defence officials have characterized these VM-90P units as technically obsolete. Their original design provided underbody protection primarily against small arms fire and shrapnel, but not against the threats posed by mines or improvised explosive devices (IEDs). This critical vulnerability was tragically demonstrated in 2006 when an IED strike on a VM90P in Nasiriyah, Iraq, resulted in the deaths of four Italian soldiers and one Romanian soldier.

This latest Italian donation of VM-90P armoured vehicles to Somalia is executed under an existing bilateral defence cooperation agreement between the two nations. This formal defence partnership originated with a General Cooperation Agreement signed in Rome in September 2013, which subsequently came into effect in July 2016 and remains active without a specified expiration date. The agreement broadly aims to enhance cooperation between their respective armed forces, bolster defence capabilities, and improve security coordination, while also facilitating equipment exchanges to foster interoperability.

The legal basis for such transfers is well-established within Italy's Military Code. This code permits the free transfer of defence equipment that has been declared out of service to developing countries and other eligible recipients. A crucial prerequisite for these Italian Military Code defence transfers is the explicit approval from the relevant parliamentary committees, a step that was completed for the current VM-90P donation. Somalia's classification as a least developed country by the UN Committee for Development Policy makes it an eligible recipient under these provisions.

This is not the first instance of Italy contributing to the strengthening of Somalia's security sector. In 2015, Rome provided equipment valued at approximately 50,000 euros, which included riot-control gear, uniforms, personal equipment, stationery, and hygiene supplies. Furthermore, a second shipment of similar value is currently awaiting official authorization, underscoring a consistent pattern of support.

The donation of these armoured vehicles arrives as Somalia intensifies its efforts to bolster the capabilities of its national security forces. The country is progressively working towards assuming greater responsibility for its internal security, a critical step in its long-term stability. The ongoing Italy Somalia defence cooperation agreement, and specific initiatives like this Somali police force equipment transfer, are integral to these broader national objectives.

While the VM-90P vehicles possess known limitations regarding protection against modern threats like IEDs, their transfer nonetheless contributes to the immediate operational capacity of the Somali police force. This support aligns with the overarching goals of the bilateral agreement to enhance security coordination and facilitate the exchange of equipment, thereby improving interoperability between the two nations' defence structures. Such collaborations are vital for countries like Somalia as they navigate complex security challenges and strive for self-reliance.

Lawyers advising defence contractors, international aid organizations, or governments should note the established legal framework under Italy's Military Code for transferring declared out-of-service defence equipment to developing countries like Somalia, indicating a precedent for similar future collaborations and the specific parliamentary approval process required for such transfers.

Source: Original reporting via Radio Dalsan