Uganda starts withdrawing its military forces from Somalia after two decades

Uganda has begun withdrawing its military forces from Somalia after nearly two decades of military involvement in the country. Uganda's acting army spokesperson Chris Magezi stated on Monday that the first group of troops deployed through a bilateral arrangement has already returned home, and additional soldiers will follow in a few days. BBC News reported the announcement on Monday. [1]

All Ugandan forces, including those serving under the African Union mission, are scheduled to leave Somalia by the end of 2027 as part of a phased withdrawal plan. BBC News reported that Uganda was the first African nation to send troops to Somalia under the African Union Mission in Somalia, which was established in 2007. [1]

The original African Union mission was created in 2007 to protect the transitional government of Somalia from attacks by Islamic militants. Uganda was the pioneer troop-contributing country to that regional stabilization effort. [1]