Facebook Twitter (X) Instagram Somali Magazine - People's Magazine
Uganda’s Defense Minister urges urgent African Union reinforcements, saying recent Al-Shabaab attacks could undo years of security progress in Somalia
Mogadishu (HOL) — Uganda’s Defense Minister, Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth, has raised serious concerns about Somalia’s worsening security situation. On Friday, he warned that the recent attack by Al-Shabaab militants on a Somali military base shows that the country is facing a dangerous setback in its fight against terrorism.
Oboth made these remarks during a high-level meeting in Kampala with officials from African Union countries that send troops to Somalia. He said that the progress made over the years by Somali and international forces is at risk of being lost if stronger action isn’t taken immediately.
According to Oboth, the recent events prove that the threat from terrorism is still very real in Somalia and across the Horn of Africa. “We risk losing the hard-earned gains we fought so hard to achieve,” he said. He stressed the need for the African Union to step up its support and provide reinforcements to help Somalia hold the line against Al-Shabaab.
This warning came just one day after Al-Shabaab fighters launched a large-scale attack on Wargaadhi, a key Somali military base and the second-largest in the country. The attack shows that the group is still capable of striking major targets, even after many years of military campaigns aimed at weakening them.
Oboth explained that the return of Al-Shabaab as a major threat could destabilize not only Somalia but the entire region. If their growing power is not stopped soon, it could have serious consequences for the wider Horn of Africa.
In 2024, the African Union replaced the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) with a new operation called the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). This new mission focuses on helping Somali forces take full control of the country’s security.
However, the slow and phased withdrawal of international peacekeeping troops has left certain areas less protected, and Al-Shabaab is using this opportunity to regain strength. The group has recently increased its attacks in central and southern parts of Somalia, trying to take back areas they had previously lost and to interrupt the country’s efforts to restore peace.
Even though both Somali and African Union troops are working hard to fight back, the militant group continues to cause damage and loss of life, creating fear and instability. The Defense Minister’s message was clear: if the international community and regional allies don’t act quickly, Al-Shabaab may continue to grow stronger.
Oboth called on the African Union and Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to urgently boost support for Somali forces, especially during this critical transition period. He warned that without immediate reinforcement, Somalia could slide backwards, undoing the years of effort that have gone into building peace and stability.
In summary, Uganda’s defense minister has sounded the alarm about Somalia’s fragile security, pointing to Al-Shabaab’s recent attacks as proof that the country needs urgent help. The situation is serious, and unless there is a quick and coordinated response, Somalia and the broader region could face even greater challenges ahead.