Uganda Begins Troop Withdrawal From Somalia After Nearly Two Decades
SOMALIA — Uganda's troop withdrawal from Somalia has begun, ending a deployment that started in 2007. The military announced the first returns on November 2, 2026. It plans to bring all remaining Ugandan forces home by the end of 2027.
A withdrawal timetable tells overseas teams when a force plans to leave. The handover arrangements explain who will provide security afterward. Both matter when assessing how a mission can continue operating.
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The immediate departures involve soldiers serving under a bilateral agreement with Somalia's government. However, the longer timetable also covers Ugandan personnel within the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, or AUSSOM.
Troop withdrawal from Somalia raises handover questions
Meanwhile, African Union peacekeepers plan to take over four positions near Mogadishu during November rotations. The Associated Press reported the plan after obtaining an AUSSOM letter to the United Nations support office.
The positions include Sabid-Anole, Bariire, Awdheegle and Bulonagad. The letter describes them as important to the capital's protection. However, the planned replacement forces would move from Barawe, leaving questions over who would secure the sites they vacate.
Separately, Reuters reported that AUSSOM warned of possible security gaps in Lower Shabelle. Al-Shabaab continues to threaten government forces and civilians in Somalia.
A separate UN transition has already concluded
The troop drawdown coincides with another change in Somalia's international support. On October 31, the UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia completed its mandate after a two-year transition.
That closure concerned the UN's political mission. It did not end the wider UN presence. Instead, Somali institutions, the UN country team and the UN support office took over designated functions.
What overseas teams should watch
For personnel supporting missions in Somalia, the practical story is the handover between forces. The announced departure schedule alone does not establish who will protect every position throughout the transition.