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Uganda begins withdrawing troops from Somalia after two decades of fighting al-Shabab

Uganda has started a phased withdrawal of its military forces from Somalia, concluding a nearly twenty-year campaign against al-Shabab insurgents. Acting army spokesperson Chris Magezi stated that the initial group of soldiers deployed under a bilateral agreement returned to Uganda, with the complete departure of all Ugandan forces scheduled to conclude by the end of 2027. Peacekeepers plan to take over four bases near the Somali capital of Mogadishu to prevent militants from exploiting any resulting security gaps. The mission has encountered severe financial strain following a United States decision to withdraw funding.

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⚡ Key Developments & Real-Time Context
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  • ✓ Uganda has begun withdrawing its troops from Somalia after nearly two decades of fighting al-Shabab.
  • ✓ Ugandan troops first deployed to Somalia in 2007 as part of an international military coalition.
  • ✓ Acting army spokesperson Chris Magezi stated that all Ugandan forces will leave by the end of 2027.
  • ✓ Peacekeepers plan to take over four bases near Somalia's capital as Ugandan troops withdraw.
🛡️ Source Corroboration: 12 independent reporting domains (100% confidence) ⏱ Read time: ~2 min

What changed

Uganda officially initiated its phased military withdrawal from Somalia, with the first contingent of bilaterally deployed soldiers returning home.

Live updates

  1. Uganda Begins Withdrawing Troops from Somalia After Two Decades

    Uganda has started a phased withdrawal of its military forces from Somalia, concluding a nearly twenty-year campaign against al-Shabab insurgents. Acting army spokesperson Chris Magezi stated that the initial group of soldiers deployed under a bilateral agreement returned to Uganda, with the complete departure of all Ugandan forces scheduled to conclude by the end of 2027. Peacekeepers plan to take over four bases near the Somali capital of Mogadishu to prevent militants from exploiting any resulting security gaps. The mission has encountered severe financial strain following a United States decision to withdraw funding.

    Why it matters

    Ugandan forces first arrived in Somalia in 2007 as part of an international military coalition to suppress the Islamist insurgency. This long-standing deployment formed a critical pillar of regional security efforts around Mogadishu. The ongoing pullout highlights the vulnerability of regional peacekeeping missions amid shifting international financial support.

    What is confirmed

    • Uganda has begun withdrawing its troops from Somalia after nearly two decades of fighting al-Shabab.
    • Ugandan troops first deployed to Somalia in 2007 as part of an international military coalition.
    • Acting army spokesperson Chris Magezi stated that all Ugandan forces will leave by the end of 2027.
    • Peacekeepers plan to take over four bases near Somalia's capital as Ugandan troops withdraw.

    What to watch next

    • The complete departure of all Ugandan forces by the end of 2027.
    • Peacekeeper assumption of control at the four bases near Mogadishu.
    • Further announcements regarding international funding adjustments for the mission.
    Sources used for this update (14)
    1. saudigazette.com.sa — Home - Latest News from Saudi Arabia and the World
    2. www.bbc.com — BBC Home - Breaking News, World News, US News, Sports, Business...
    3. www.myjoyonline.com — Fire outbreaks leave a trail of destruction at Bunso, Boso and Nsawam
    4. BBC — Uganda begins withdrawing troops from Somalia after two decades of fighting al-Shabab
    5. AP News — Peacekeepers plan to take over bases near Somalia’s capital as Ugandan troops withdraw
    6. Somali Guardian — Uganda begins withdrawing troops deployed bilaterally in Somalia
    7. Reuters — Uganda says it has started withdrawing troops from Somalia
    8. dw.com — Uganda begins withdrawing troops from Somalia after two-decade effort to battle militants
    9. allafrica.com — Uganda Begins Withdrawing Troops from Somalia After Two Decades - allAfrica.com
    10. www.audacy.com — Peacekeepers plan to take over bases near Somalia’s capital as Ugandan troops withdraw - Audacy,Radio & Podcasts
    11. www.bbc.com — Uganda begins withdrawing troops from Somalia after two ... - BBC
    12. www.dw.com — Uganda begins withdrawing troops from Somalia - dw.com
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