Uganda begins withdrawing troops from Somalia after two decades

· Security · Uganda · Somalia

Uganda said on Monday it had begun withdrawing its troops from Somalia as part of a phased drawdown that will end an almost two-decade deployment helping Mogadishu fight the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab insurgency. Uganda has been part of the African Union mission since 2007. The drawdown comes days after the UN ended its political mission in Somalia and as the region faces drought and instability, raising questions about who will fill the security gap.

Why it matters：The drawdown removes experienced forces from a fragile mission fighting al-Shabaab, with consequences for Somalia and regional security.

Key points

  • Uganda has contributed troops since 2007.
  • The withdrawal is part of a phased drawdown.
  • It comes days after the UN ended its political mission in Somalia.

Sources (original reporting)

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