Was wondering why Qatar is involved in peace talks between US, Rwanda and DRC? Must be something in it for them??
Kasser II in Congo: Matadi Welcomes a New Batch of Emirati Armored Vehicles, While the Emirates Conquer the Walikale Mines
A new batch of thirty Kasser II armored vehicles from the United Arab Emirates docked at the port of Matadi in early May, marking a further milestone in the delivery of more than one hundred armored vehicles to the Congolese army by the Emirati company International Golden Group (IGG).
Manufactured in the Emirates, the Kasser II are mine-resistant, ambush-resistant armored vehicles (MRAPs), designed for transporting troops over hostile terrain.
This capacity building is part of a military strategy aimed at supporting the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) in their fight against the M23 rebels in the east of the country.
The first batches, delivered in January, enabled the deployment of around fifty armored vehicles to Kisangani and Kindu, two logistics hubs with strategic airports for military supplies to conflict zones.
This military partnership with the Emirates does not stop there.
On a more economic level, International Resources Holding (IRH), another Emirati company linked to the powerful conglomerate of Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan, recently took control of the Bisie tin mine in Walikale.
IRH acquired a 56% stake in this key site from Denham Capital, an American fund.
The Bisie mine is one of the largest in the world, representing approximately 6% of global tin production.
Moreover, the Kasser II mines are not exclusively Congolese.
On April 27, Togo displayed 12 of these vehicles during a military parade, demonstrating the growing interest of African countries in this armored technology designed for counterterrorism operations.
Thus, behind the delivery of armored vehicles, the UAE's strategic rise in Central Africa is emerging, through enhanced military cooperation and the establishment of strategic mineral resources.
Don't forget the Tin
Food for thought
Frank
