The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has initiated the withdrawal of its troops from Somalia, marking the beginning of a phased exit from the country where Ugandan soldiers have served for nearly two decades. This move follows a bilateral security arrangement between Uganda and Somalia. The first group of soldiers under the withdrawal operation has already returned to Uganda.
According to Col. Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information, the drawdown has taken immediate effect. In a statement issued on Monday, Magezi confirmed that the first cohort of troops under the phased withdrawal operation has already arrived back in Uganda. The complete withdrawal of troops deployed under the bilateral arrangement is expected within the next few days.
However, the withdrawal will extend beyond the bilateral deployment, with the UPDF gradually pulling out all its remaining forces in Somalia, including troops serving under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), by the end of 2027. This move will mark the end of Uganda’s nearly 20-year peace enforcement and stabilisation operations in Somalia.
Uganda was the first country to deploy troops to Somalia in March 2007 under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which was later reconfigured into the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) before being replaced by AUSSOM. Thousands of UPDF soldiers have served in the successive missions, fighting the Al-Shabaab militant group and supporting efforts to rebuild Somali state institutions.
At its peak, Uganda had more than 6,000 troops in Somalia, operating mainly in Sector One, which covered Mogadishu and parts of the Lower and Middle Shabelle regions. Although Magezi did not disclose the number of soldiers being withdrawn under the bilateral arrangement, reports indicate that the first group of 109 UPDF soldiers left Mogadishu on Friday.
The withdrawal comes as the African Union mission faces funding and logistical challenges, with troop-contributing countries raising concerns over delayed reimbursements and shortfalls in support from international partners. The broader transition is intended to enable Somali security forces to progressively assume responsibility for national security, with the African Union’s current plan targeting December 2027 for the completion of the process.
There have also been reports of disagreements between Uganda and Turkey over their respective roles and engagements in Somalia, which sources say created friction around the bilateral deployment. However, the UPDF has not publicly identified these concerns as a reason for the withdrawal. The phased withdrawal is set to conclude by 2027, allowing the Somali Armed Forces to assume full responsibility for the country’s security.
Key points
- The UPDF has started withdrawing troops from Somalia under a bilateral security arrangement.
- The complete withdrawal of troops is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
- The withdrawal comes amid funding and logistical challenges facing the African Union mission in Somalia.
