Uganda Begins Withdrawal of Troops from Somalia After 20 Years

Uganda has officially begun withdrawing its troops from Somalia after two decades of service in peacekeeping missions. The Ugandan military confirmed that an initial group of 109 soldiers has already departed from Mogadishu. According to Ugandan Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the phased withdrawal will continue until August 2027, by which time full security responsibility will be transferred to the Somali government. These forces, who have served under the African Union mission since 2007, played a key role in campaigns against Al-Shabaab. However, Uganda will maintain a presence in the country through separate bilateral agreements. The withdrawal comes as the Somali government attempts to strengthen its own national security forces to maintain control.