World · World News Bureau
Uganda winds down two-decade military presence in Somalia
Uganda has initiated the withdrawal of its armed forces from Somalia, concluding two decades of involvement in the African Union's stabilisation mission. The East African nation was the first country to deploy troops to the AU operation when it was established in 2007.
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Uganda's military withdrawal marks a significant shift in the regional security architecture that has long depended on Kampala's troop commitment to combat militant groups and support state-building efforts in Somalia. The pullback comes as the Horn of Africa nation has grappled with persistent instability despite years of international military engagement.
The Uganda People's Defence Force has maintained a substantial contingent within the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and its successor operation since 2007, making the country's contribution foundational to the multinational peacekeeping effort. Ugandan troops have been instrumental in confrontations with Al-Shabaab and other armed groups operating across Somalia.
The withdrawal process reflects evolving security assessments and resource constraints facing Uganda, while also signalling changing dynamics within the broader international commitment to Somalia's stabilisation. The transition raises questions about capacity gaps as other troop-contributing nations reassess their own deployments in the region.
Somalia's security situation remains complex, with ongoing challenges from Al-Shabaab and concerns about the Somali National Army's readiness to assume full responsibility for counterinsurgency operations. The departure of such a significant military presence will test the sustainability of security gains achieved over the past two decades.