Mogadishu, (Politics in Africa) – Uganda on Sunday announced it will withdraw its troops from Somalia after almost two decades of continuous peacekeeping operations, a move that could radically change the region’s security framework and will impact the ongoing efforts against the terrorist organisation Al Shabaab.
In his announcement on X, Uganda Defence Forces Chief of Staff Muhoozi Kainerugaba said, “Uganda is working toward a total withdrawal of troops from Somalia,” indicating that the long-held military mission will soon come to a close. The Ugandan Leader did not specify an exact date for the withdrawal or any further operational plans related to this mission.
Uganda is currently the largest contributor of troops to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) with an estimated 5,000 – 6,000 active-duty personnel. They play a key role in securing and protecting essential infrastructure in Mogadishu, such as the Aden Adde International Airport, the Seaport of Mogadishu, and numerous other high-value Government sites.
Since 2007, when Uganda became the first country to deploy troops as part of the African Union mission to Somalia, Uganda has been a major part of international efforts to stabilise Somalia through its military capabilities, and has provided high-ranking command personnel who have led numerous counterinsurgency campaigns and assisted in building the military and law enforcement capabilities of Somalia.
Neither the Somali Government nor the African Union has given any indication half regarding what the Ugandan withdrawal will look like and how it will impact the already fragile security situation in the country as well as AUSSOM’s ability to operate effectively.
The announcement arrives at a difficult time for AUSSOM, which has recently been experiencing severe shortages of financial support. AUSSOM was given its current mandate on January 1, 2025; however, recently, the mission has faced decreasing levels of financial support from the European Union, while the United States has completely stopped its financial contribution due to concerns about equitable burden-sharing. As such, the African Union is under enormous pressure to support AUSSOM with its operational costs and to make payments that remain due to troop contributing nations.
Additionally, Uganda’s potential withdrawal adds further uncertainty to the security transition in Somalia at a time when international support for peacekeeping operations appears to be fading.
