Uganda announced on Monday the start of withdrawing its troops participating in the military mission formed by the African Union to help Somalia combat armed groups in the country, nearly two decades ago.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted the Ugandan army in a statement saying that the "Uganda People's Defence Forces have begun a gradual process of reducing the number of troops deployed in Somalia, under immediate bilateral arrangements with the central government, with all its troops, including those currently deployed under the African Union mission to support stability in Somalia, withdrawing by the end of 2027."
The army clarified that its withdrawal "will mark the end of Uganda's 20-year continuous operations supporting peace and stability in Somalia, allowing the Somali Armed Forces to assume full responsibility for security in the country."
History of Military Presence
Uganda was the first country to send troops to Somalia when the African Union formed an international military mission in March 2007 to combat rebels in the country. Since then, African Union missions have continued, and Uganda remained a key supporter by deploying thousands of soldiers in Somalia. However, the future of international operations has become uncertain, following the withdrawal of funding by its major donors, led by the United States, in recent months.
Figures and Funding
The number of Ugandan troops in Somalia ranged between 4,500 and 6,000 soldiers within the last African Union mission, in addition to between 2,000 and 2,500 other soldiers under a bilateral agreement. The United States announced last July that it would cease its support for the African Union mission to support and stabilize Somalia through UN mechanisms starting from 2027.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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