Uganda begins withdrawing troops from Somalia
Uganda has begun a phased withdrawal of its troops from Somalia after nearly two decades of military involvement against al-Shabab militants. The security responsibilities are being handed over to Somali forces, with the full withdrawal expected by August 2027.
Why it matters
This withdrawal marks a major shift in the security landscape of the Horn of Africa, as Somalia transitions toward taking full control of its own national security.
Image source, AFP via Getty Images Image caption, Uganda first deployed its troops to Somalia in 2007
Uganda has begun withdrawing its troops from Somalia after nearly two decades of military involvement in the country.
The first contingent of 109 Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) troops reportedly left the capital, Mogadishu, on Friday, following an announcement by Uganda's army chief, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Uganda's acting army spokesperson, Chris Magezi, did not respond to the BBC's request for comment.
Uganda was the first African country to deploy troops to Somalia under the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom), which was established in 2007 to help protect the country's transitional government from attacks by Islamist militants.
Last week, Gen Muhoozi said Uganda had begun pulling out its troops and would hand over security responsibilities to Somali forces.
Also covering this story
2 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in