Uganda Begins Withdrawal of Troops from Somalia
Uganda has initiated the withdrawal of its troops from Somalia after nearly two decades of military engagement in the country.
Key Points:
- The first contingent of 109 Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) troops left Mogadishu on Friday, as announced by Uganda's army chief, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
- Uganda was the pioneer African nation to deploy troops under the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) established in 2007 to safeguard the country's transitional government from Islamist militants.
- The withdrawal, conducted in phases, is expected to conclude by August 2027. However, Uganda will maintain its military presence in Somalia through bilateral security arrangements.
- Somalia has been battling an incessant and deadly insurgency led by al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group, for over two decades.
- Uganda's UPDF played a pivotal role in driving al-Shabab out of Mogadishu and other significant towns, alongside the Somali National Army.
The complex history includes the transition from Amisom to Aussom (African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia) in 2025, with uncertainty surrounding the mission's future funding.
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- BBC Africa podcasts (including This Is Africa and The Video Playlist)