The phased drawdown began with an initial contingent of 109 soldiers departing Mogadishu on Friday, targeting roughly 4,500 personnel serving under the continental peacekeeping mission. However, approximately 2,000 Ugandan troops will remain stationed in the country under a separate bilateral pact. This drawdown marks a major shift since the original 2007 deployment that dislodged al-Shabab from the capital. To manage the exit amid international funding reductions, a 12-month transition plan launching in January aims to help regional authorities secure alternative financial backing.
Key points
Uganda is reducing its continental mission footprint after nearly two decades of military…: Uganda is reducing its continental mission footprint after nearly two decades of military operations against al-Shabab.
The successor African Union mission faces severe fiscal uncertainty due to planned United…: The successor African Union mission faces severe fiscal uncertainty due to planned United States and United Nations funding cuts.
A 12-month transition plan starting in January provides time for regional partners to sou…: A 12-month transition plan starting in January provides time for regional partners to source replacement mission resources.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Uganda starts withdrawing troops from Somalia
- Published
Uganda has begun withdrawing its troops from Somalia after nearly two decades of military involvement in the country.
The 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.
Uganda's acting army spokesperson, Chris Magezi, did not respond to the BBC's request for comment.
Uganda was the first African country to deploy troops to Somalia under the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom), which was established in 2007 to help protect the country's transitional government from attacks by Islamist militants.
Last week, Gen Muhoozi said Uganda had begun pulling out its troops and would hand over security responsibilities to Somali forces.
"As we promised, we have started withdrawing UPDF from Somalia. After 20 years of a lot of blood and sacrifice, we are handing over security to our Somali brothers," he wrote on X.
The withdrawal is being carried out in phases and is expected to be completed in August 2027.
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