Uganda: Uganda Begins Withdrawing Troops from Somalia After Two Decades

What the report says

Uganda has started withdrawing its troops from Somalia after nearly two decades of involvement in the African Union-led effort against Islamist militants, according to reporting distributed by AllAfrica from Deutsche Welle. The Ugandan military said the first group of soldiers has already returned home and that the pullout will continue in stages.

Uganda was the first country to deploy forces to Somalia in 2007, joining an international peacekeeping mission intended to support the Somali government against Al-Shabab. The current operation, known as the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, includes about 4,500 Ugandan personnel, alongside another 2,000 deployed under bilateral arrangements, the report said.

The army said all Ugandan forces in Somalia are expected to be withdrawn by the end of 2027, after which Somali forces would take full responsibility for security. The decision comes as the future of the AU mission faces uncertainty after the United States moved to end funding for a UN logistics office that supports the coalition.

The report also noted broader pressure on Somalia’s security and political transition, including continuing Al-Shabab control over parts of the country and concerns about instability ahead of elections expected next year. Uganda’s withdrawal marks a significant shift for a long-running regional security mission that has helped push militants out of Mogadishu and other major towns.