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Africa Subsaharan |
MV Faina cargo offloaded in Kenya |
2009-02-18 |
The MV Faina cargo have been fully loaded on rail wagons ready for onward transfer to the Kahawa Barracks in Nairobi. So...will this be the first stop or the final destination? Sources say the cargo is awaiting an official flag off to start the trip anytime later Tuesday or early Wednesday. The consignment aboard the Ukrainian ship included anti-aircraft guns mounted on four-wheel carriages, rocket propelled grenades, an armoured truck and spare parts. Military officials, led by Colonel George Kabugi, Deputy Commander of the Kenya Army Armoured Brigade, told journalists that they were happy to receive the cargo. Yes, yes! We love the big toys! When the vessel arrived, Defence Assistant Minister David Musila said the equipment would be transported to Kahawa Garrison and then to Isiolo and Lanet Army barracks. The exercise was interrupted several times due to tidal waves on the ocean and other logistic hiccups. The Belize-flagged MV Faina which remained in the control of pirates for 134 days was released on February 5 after the owners paid a $3.2 million ransom to the buccaneers. |
Posted by:tu3031 |
#3 I hope the South Sudanese get their tanks. |
Posted by: phil_b 2009-02-18 19:00 |
#2 T-72: AKA "Pop-top" |
Posted by: mojo 2009-02-18 18:02 |
#1 Of chief international interest among the stores were a number of T-72 main battle tanks (MBTs), which were at the centre of diplomatic and media attention when Faina was seized by Somali pirates in September 2008. Local sources put the number of MBTs at 33, supported by an unknown number of anti-aircraft gun systems, believed to be ZPU-4 quad-barrelled 14.5 mm towed anti-aircraft guns, and stocks of small arms. Kenya has repeatedly issued claims to be the end user of the weapons, but Jane's sources state that this is, in fact, the third and final batch of MBTs and heavy weapons ordered for use in southern Sudan. |
Posted by: tu3031 2009-02-18 14:17 |