Uganda Begins Phased Troop Withdrawal From Somalia After 20-Year Peacekeeping Mission

The Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) has officially begun withdrawing its troops from Somalia, initiating a phased exit after nearly two decades of military operations against the al-Shabab militant group. The first cohort of soldiers, who were deployed under a bilateral security arrangement with the Somali federal government, has already returned to Uganda.[1][2][3]

Military officials confirmed that the drawdown will eventually encompass all Ugandan personnel stationed in the Horn of Africa nation. "The UPDF will gradually withdraw all its forces in Somalia, including those currently deployed under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) by the close of 2027," stated Col. Chris Magezi, the acting director of defense public information.[2][3][4]

Uganda was the first country to deploy forces to Somalia in March 2007, operating under the initial African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Over the ensuing 20 years, Ugandan troops served as the backbone of the coalition, playing a critical role in dislodging al-Qaeda-linked insurgents from the capital city of Mogadishu and other major urban centers.[1][3][4]

The withdrawal coincides with mounting uncertainty over the future financing of international peacekeeping operations in the region. Key financial backers, most notably the United States, have recently withdrawn funding for the United Nations logistics mission that the military coalition relies upon to sustain its deployments.[3]

Washington has voiced frustration over the lack of progress against al-Shabab and the Somali government's struggles to unite the country and enact political reforms. Uganda currently maintains between 4,500 and 6,000 troops under the African Union mandate, alongside an additional 2,000 to 2,500 soldiers stationed through bilateral agreements.[3]

The departure of these forces will shift the burden of national security entirely to the Somali Armed Forces, which are simultaneously navigating the closure of the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia. That political mission formally closed on Saturday after more than three decades of successive operations designed to help rebuild the civil war-shattered country.[1]

The transition arrives as al-Shabab continues to control substantial territory in central Somalia, launching frequent attacks against government and civilian targets. While Somali authorities have asserted their readiness to assume internal security responsibilities, the departure of the coalition's largest troop contributor presents a severe test for the nation's developing military infrastructure.[1][3]

"This will mark the end of Uganda's enduring 20-year peace and stabilization support operations in Somalia, permitting the Somali Armed Forces to assume full responsibility for security in the country," Magezi noted in the military's statement. The phased approach is designed to prevent an immediate security vacuum as the 2027 deadline approaches.[2][4]

The timeline for the handover of specific forward operating bases remains undisclosed, and authorities have not released precise casualty figures for the Ugandan peacekeepers killed or wounded over the 20-year deployment. As the drawdown proceeds, regional observers are closely monitoring whether the Somali government can consolidate its recent territorial gains without the operational support provided by the Ugandan military.[1][2]