Italia is donating six armoured vehicles belonging to the Carabinieri to the Somali police, worth over 170,000 euros
The Foreign Affairs and Defence Committees of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate have given their approval. The vehicles in question are VM-90Ps, which are obsolete and characterised by high maintenance costs and limited operational capabilities
Italia is donating six Carabinieri armoured vehicles to the Somali police free of charge, with a total value of over 170,000 euros. This is set out in a draft decree from the Ministry of Defence, on which the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committees of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate gave a favourable opinion during their last sitting before the summer recess, on Wednesday 29 July. The transfer, with a total value of just over 170,000 euros, will not entail any additional costs for the defence budget.
The VM-90Ps are obsolete vehicles characterised by high maintenance costs and limited operational capabilities. For these reasons, they have been declared ‘out of service’ by the Carabinieri Logistics Inspectorate. These vehicles have been gradually replaced by the VTLM Lince light multi-role tactical vehicles, which have proved to be more effective and safer.
Previous cases
This is not the first time that Italia has made donations to the Somali Armed Forces and security forces. In 2025, a transfer of equipment worth approximately 50,000 euros took place (riot control equipment; uniforms and kit; stationery and personal hygiene items). A second transfer of equipment, of a similar value, is currently awaiting authorisation.
The transfer of weapons free of charge
The transfer of military equipment free of charge has its legal basis in the Military Code. The Ministry of Defence is authorised to transfer equipment declared out of service, free of charge, to developing countries and countries participating in the Partnership for Peace (within the framework of NATO), within the framework of existing cooperation agreements, or to voluntary civil protection organisations listed in the relevant registers, or to state administrations as part of economic and social recovery programmes for areas of the national territory affected by industrial crisis. Such transfers are permitted exclusively for defence equipment and subject to a binding opinion from the relevant parliamentary committees.
Why Somalia
Somalia is classified as a Least Developed Country (LDC) as defined by the United Nations Committee for Development Policy. In September 2013, the Italian and Somali governments signed a General Cooperation Agreement on defence in Rome. This agreement, which came into force on 25 July 2016, is of indefinite duration and aims to increase cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries, strengthening their respective defence capabilities and improving mutual understanding on security issues. In particular, the Agreement provides for the exchange of equipment as a means of enhancing interoperability between the respective police forces.
