Qatar supports Somalia militarily with 68 armoured vehicles

<p>Qatar donated 68 armoured vehicles to Somalia on Thursday, Qatar’s defence ministry said, a sign that Doha is pushing for influence in the country with the role of its Gulf rival, the United Arab Emirates, under strain.</p> <p>Somalia, a Horn of Africa country located on key shipping routes, has refused to take sides in the rift between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, a <span class="caps">UAE</span> ally.</p> <p>But relations with the <span class="caps">UAE</span> have become strained over the UAE’s investments in the breakaway region of Somaliland. In April, Somalia disbanded a <span class="caps">UAE</span> program to train some of its troops.</p> <p>Qatar’s defence ministry said the armoured vehicles, delivered on Thursday in Mogadishu, would strengthen the Somali state, which is battling an Islamist insurgency. </p> <p><strong><em><span class="caps">REUTERS</span></em></strong></p>