Uganda begins phased troop withdrawal from Somalia

Uganda has begun withdrawing its troops from Somalia after nearly two decades of military involvement in the country. A first contingent of 109 Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) troops reportedly left the capital, Mogadishu, on Friday, following an announcement by Uganda's army chief, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

Withdrawal Details and Timeline

Uganda's acting army spokesperson Chris Magezi said on Monday that the first group of troops deployed to Somalia through a bilateral arrangement has already arrived back home, with others expected to follow in a few days. Magezi stated this would mark the end of Uganda's operations in the country, as Somalia is expected to "assume full responsibility for security."

According to Magezi, all forces, including those under the African Union (AU) mission, are scheduled to exit by the end of 2027 in a phased withdrawal. The handover of forward operating bases (FoBs) to the Somali army is scheduled to continue until Nov 4.

Diplomatic Meetings

The withdrawal follows a meeting in Kampala last week between Somali President Sheikh Mohamud and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. The meeting was intended to discuss trade, economic ties, and the security situation in Somalia.

According to the Somali Guardian, President Mohamud sought to persuade President Museveni to extend the military presence, but Museveni rejected the request. The Somali Guardian reports that Museveni told Mohamud he would withdraw part of his forces before Nov 15.

Security Context

Uganda first deployed troops to Somalia in 2007 under the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) to protect the country's transitional government from attacks by Islamist militants. Ugandan forces have played a role in driving al-Shabab out of Mogadishu and other major towns.

Currently, an estimated 4,500 troops are in Somalia under the African Union mission, alongside approximately 2,000 deployed through bilateral arrangements. These forces are stationed in the Lower Shabelle region, which is considered central to the security of the capital.

In 2025, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (Atmis) was replaced by the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (Aussom), which focuses on strengthening Somalia's security institutions. Aussom currently faces uncertainty regarding future funding due to plans to wind down US and UN support. A 12-month transition plan is scheduled to begin in January to allow the AU and Somalia to seek alternative funding sources.

Why it matters

• Uganda's departure marks the end of a 20-year military presence aimed at combating the al-Shabab insurgency.
• The phased withdrawal is intended to transition security responsibilities to Somali forces by the end of 2027.
• The transition occurs amid funding uncertainties for the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (Aussom).

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Sources

• bbc.com: Uganda begins withdrawing troops from Somalia after two decades of fighting al-Shabab
• somaliguardian.com: Uganda begins troop pullout from Somalia after 20 years | Somali Guardian

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.