Uganda begins phased troop withdrawal from Somalia

Conflict · First reported 2 Nov, 08:55 · Updated 09:19

Image: Wikimedia Commons · Francis Matahum · CC BY-SA 4.0

Uganda says it has started withdrawing troops from Somalia, with the full exit of its forces planned by the end of 2027. The move follows nearly two decades of involvement and is intended to transfer security responsibilities to Somali forces.

Uganda says its withdrawal has begun; the first group of troops deployed under a bilateral arrangement has returned home.
Uganda’s acting army spokesperson said all its forces, including those serving under the African Union mission, would leave by the end of 2027.
The withdrawal is described as a handover of security responsibilities to Somalia, which has faced an al-Shabab insurgency for more than two decades.

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Key facts

Planned completion: Uganda says all its forces will exit by the end of 2027.
First bilateral contingent: The BBC reports that the first group deployed under a bilateral arrangement had returned home; it also reports 109 UPDF troops left Mogadishu on Friday.
Uganda’s deployment: Ugandan forces first deployed to Somalia in 2007.
Mission context: The BBC says about 4,500 troops serve under the AU mission and about 2,000 are deployed through bilateral arrangements.