Uganda Begins Somalia Withdrawal As AU Peacekeepers Prepare To Take Over Key Bases

Uganda has begun withdrawing troops from Somalia, prompting African Union peacekeepers to prepare to take over four military bases near the capital, Mogadishu, to prevent al-Shabab militants from exploiting a security vacuum.

Uganda announced that all its troops would leave Somalia by the end of 2027, ending a nearly 20-year deployment. The immediate withdrawal involves soldiers stationed under a bilateral security agreement with Somalia, while troops serving under the African Union mission will leave gradually.

According to an October 31 letter from the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) to the UN support office, peacekeepers plan to take over four positions during troop rotations scheduled for November. The bases are Sabid-Anole, Bariire, Awdheegle and Bulonagad, considered strategically important for protecting Mogadishu.

Uganda announced on Monday that the withdrawal had begun, with the first soldiers already returning home. Military spokesperson Colonel Chris Magezi said troops deployed under the bilateral agreement would complete their departure within days. The military did not explain the immediate withdrawal.

The bilateral deployment followed an April 2025 summit where African leaders called for additional peacekeepers to fight al-Shabab. The Ugandan troops helped recapture and hold territory over the following 17 months.

Funding shortages have accelerated the withdrawal, said Farhan Isak Yusuf, deputy executive director of Mogadishu-based research organisation Somali Public Agenda. He warned that Somalia's army lacks the resources to manage the country's difficult security situation.

The departing troops were stationed in Lower Shabelle, a region considered critical to Mogadishu's security. Meanwhile, Somali army commander Major General Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud visited troops in Barawe on Monday and instructed them to remain on high alert and intensify operations against al-Shabab. It remains unclear whether Somali forces will take over the vacated bases.

The development comes as Somalia faces continuing security and political challenges. The United Nations' political mission recently closed after more than three decades, although humanitarian agencies and a separate support office for African Union peacekeepers remain operational.

Last week, an officer who survived an ambush reported that at least 20 Somali soldiers were killed in the Bay region. The government acknowledged damage to military vehicles but did not disclose troop casualties.