UPDF Begins Phased Withdrawal from Somalia After Nearly Two Decades

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have officially commenced a phased withdrawal of troops from Somalia, bringing an end to nearly two decades of peace enforcement and stabilisation operations in the Horn of Africa nation. According to a statement issued by Col Chris Magezi, the acting director of Defence Public Information, the drawdown has taken immediate effect.

The initial phase saw a group of 109 UPDF soldiers depart from Mogadishu following directives from the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba. The broader withdrawal plan will see all remaining Ugandan forces—including those serving under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM)—fully pull out by the end of 2027.

Uganda made history in March 2007 by becoming the first nation to deploy peacekeepers to Somalia under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which later transitioned into ATMIS and subsequently AUSSOM. At the peak of the deployment, Kampala maintained over 6,000 soldiers in Sector One, encompassing Mogadishu alongside parts of the Lower and Middle Shabelle regions, where they fought Al-Shabaab militants and helped rebuild state institutions.

While military officials have not explicitly linked the drawdown to broader regional challenges, the African Union mission has faced persistent funding constraints, logistical hurdles, and delayed reimbursements from international partners. Additionally, reports have surfaced regarding diplomatic friction concerning foreign security engagements in Mogadishu.

Ultimately, the ongoing transition aims to empower the Somali Armed Forces to take full control of national security as the international peacekeeping mandate winds down. Further updates regarding the specific number of troops leaving under the current bilateral arrangement are expected from defence authorities.

For more details on this development, read the original report on The Observer.