Uganda Starts Withdrawal of Troops from Somalia After 20 Years

Uganda announced on Monday that it has started withdrawing its troops from Somalia. This move comes after nearly 20 years of military support to help fight against insurgents in the country.

Uganda was the first nation to send troops to Somalia back in March 2007 when the African Union set up a military mission to combat Islamist groups. Over the years, Uganda has played a vital role in this effort, deploying thousands of soldiers to support the mission.

However, the future of international military operations in Somalia is uncertain. Key financial supporters, especially the United States, have recently stopped funding these efforts. The Ugandan army stated that the withdrawal of troops will happen gradually, with plans to complete the process by the end of 2027.

Despite the international military presence, the Al-Shabaab group, which is linked to Al-Qaeda, continues to control significant areas of central Somalia. Currently, Uganda has between 4,500 and 6,000 troops in Somalia as part of the African Union mission, along with an additional 2,000 to 2,500 troops under a separate agreement.

The Ugandan army emphasized that this withdrawal will end its long-standing peacekeeping operations in Somalia, allowing the Somali Armed Forces to take full control of security in their country.