Uganda begins phased withdrawal of troops from Somalia

Uganda People’s Defence Forces Somalia AUSSOM al-Shabaab military withdrawal

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has commenced a phased withdrawal of its military personnel from Somalia, marking the beginning of the end for a nearly two-decade-long security presence. According to UPDF spokesperson Colonel Chris Magezi, the initial drawdown involves troops deployed under a bilateral security arrangement with the Somali federal government, with the first group of 109 soldiers already having returned to Uganda.

The withdrawal is expected to be completed in stages, with all remaining Ugandan forces, including those serving under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), scheduled to depart by the end of 2027. This exit aims to allow the Somali National Army to assume full responsibility for national security.

Security concerns have been raised regarding the transition. An African Union mission letter warned that the withdrawal could leave parts of the Lower Shabelle region, specifically areas like Sabid-Anole, Bariire, Awdheegle, and Bulonagad, vulnerable to attacks by the al-Shabaab militant group. To mitigate this, AUSSOM plans to rotate troops into four bases near Mogadishu to prevent a security vacuum.

This military shift follows a meeting between Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Kampala, where discussions covered security, trade, and economic ties.

Entities

African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia · African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia · Al-Shabaab · Chris Magezi · Muhoozi Kainerugaba · Somalia · Uganda People’s Defence Forces · United States

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 10 SOURCES] Uganda was the first country to deploy troops to Somalia in March 2007. sanyufm.com · mymotherlode.com · newscentraltv.com · www.nouvelles-du-monde.com · alsabaah.ly · +5 more
[● 11 SOURCES] All Ugandan forces, including those under AUSSOM, are expected to be withdrawn from Somalia by the end of 2027. sanyufm.com · mymotherlode.com · newscentraltv.com · www.nouvelles-du-monde.com · alsabaah.ly · +6 more
[● 2 SOURCES] The United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia closed on Saturday. mymotherlode.com · ameve.eu
[● 11 SOURCES] The Uganda People’s Defence Forces has begun withdrawing troops from Somalia under a bilateral security arrangement. sanyufm.com · mymotherlode.com · newscentraltv.com · www.nouvelles-du-monde.com · alsabaah.ly · +6 more
[● 9 SOURCES] An initial group of 109 Ugandan soldiers has already returned to Uganda. www.nouvelles-du-monde.com · alsabaah.ly · nabatieh.org · observer.ug · sanyufm.com · +4 more
[● 7 SOURCES] Uganda had between 4,500 and 6,000 troops in Somalia as part of the latest African Union mission. newscentraltv.com · alsabaah.ly · nabatieh.org · observer.ug · sanyufm.com · +2 more