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Uganda begins withdrawing troops from Somalia, all due out by end of 2027

A Ugandan military spokesman says the first group is already home, and the UN political mission in Somalia closed on Saturday.

5 news outlets reported this
Liberal1 outletWithdrawal alongside the end of the UN missionCenter3 outletsTwenty years of Ugandan involvement end, funding uncertainConservative1 outletUganda leaves a force that repelled militants
Published 3 min read
Overview

Uganda has begun withdrawing its troops from Somalia, military authorities said on Monday. Spokesman Col. Chris Magezi said in a statement that the first group in a phased withdrawal has already arrived back in Uganda. The pullout follows a bilateral agreement with Somali authorities.

Every Ugandan soldier is expected to be out by the close of 2027. Magezi told The Associated Press that thousands remain in the country for now. Uganda first sent troops in 2007 under an African Union mission, now known as AUSSOM.

The BBC reports that a first contingent of 109 soldiers reportedly left Mogadishu on Friday, after an announcement by army chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba. He wrote on X that Uganda is handing security to Somali forces. The BBC also reports that Somalia's president reportedly tried to persuade Uganda to extend its military presence.

The move coincides with the closure of the UN political mission in Somalia on Saturday, after more than three decades, according to the AP. UN aid agencies will stay, the AP says.

Key figures
  • End of 2027 date by which all Ugandan troops are expected to leave Somalia — ABC News
  • 109 Ugandan troops in a first contingent that reportedly left Mogadishu on Friday, per the BBC — BBC News
  • About 4,500 estimated troops in Somalia under the AU mission, per the BBC — BBC News
  • About 2,000 estimated troops in Somalia through bilateral arrangements, per the BBC — BBC News

Three sides of the story

Liberal1 outlet

Withdrawal alongside the end of the UN mission

ABC News, running the AP report, opens with Uganda's withdrawal from the AU force that helped repel militants. It quotes spokesman Col. Chris Magezi's statement that "the first cohort of troops" has already arrived back in Uganda. It recalls the dangerous early deployment, when al-Shabab had to be dislodged from public areas in Mogadishu, and notes that authorities have not said how many Ugandan peacekeepers were killed or wounded.

The report ties the exit to the closure of the UN political mission on Saturday. Somali authorities see that as a milestone in managing their own affairs. The AP adds that opposition figures and analysts caution about the timing, given a contested claim by the president to stay in office and the militants' continuing campaign.

It says UN aid agencies and a separate UN support office will stay.

Center3 outlets

Twenty years of Ugandan involvement end, funding uncertain

BBC News frames the move as the end of nearly two decades of Ugandan military involvement. It reports Magezi saying the first group has arrived home and others will follow within days, with all forces out by the end of 2027. It quotes army chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba on X: "we are handing over security to our Somali brothers."

It reports that 109 troops reportedly left Mogadishu on Friday and that Somalia's president reportedly tried to persuade Uganda to extend its presence after meeting Museveni in Kampala. The BBC gives troop estimates of about 4,500 under the AU mission and about 2,000 under bilateral arrangements. It closes on AUSSOM's future funding, which it describes as uncertain amid plans to wind down US and UN support.

It adds that a transition period lasting a year is set to start in January, so Somalia and the AU can look for other funding.

Conservative1 outlet

Uganda leaves a force that repelled militants

The Washington Times runs the headline "Uganda begins withdrawing peacekeeping troops that helped repel militants in Somalia." It reports that military authorities said on Monday that Uganda is pulling out soldiers who spent years in Somalia as part of an African Union peacekeeping force.

All sources: 6 articles from 5 outlets

Liberal (1)

Center (4)

Conservative (1)