Facebook Twitter (X) Instagram Somali Magazine - People's Magazine
The federal government of Somalia says Uganda’s troop withdrawal does not mean all forces are leaving, issuing a formal clarification following the departure of initial military units from Mogadishu. Security officials emphasized that the current drawdown specifically involves personnel deployed under a separate bilateral arrangement, rather than a total exit of Ugandan peacekeepers. National security advisor Awes Hagi clarified the posture following high-level tripartite coordination talks at Villa Somalia with leadership from the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia and the United Nations Support Office in Somalia.
The executive statement arrived after the Uganda People’s Defence Forces confirmed the repatriation of an initial unit of soldiers as part of a phased administrative transition. While military authorities in Kampala indicated that bilateral personnel departures would conclude within days, officials confirmed that Uganda’s larger contingent assigned to the multilateral peacekeeping mission remains operationally engaged. Thousands of Ugandan soldiers continue to maintain active posts alongside national security forces across critical sectors, including key bases throughout the Lower Shabelle region.
During the joint security assessment in Mogadishu, representatives from the federal government and multilateral partners reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining structured operational planning. Officials stressed that ongoing military offensives against insurgent networks require sustained logistical backing and predictable international support to prevent strategic vacuums. Under existing multilateral transition frameworks, the phased drawdown of peacekeepers is aligned with ongoing initiatives to enhance the operational readiness, logistical capability, and command structure of the national armed forces.
International defense monitors observe that maintaining stability during foreign force drawdowns remains essential for safeguarding recent territorial gains across central and southern provinces. Somali authorities reiterated that the gradual handover of forward operating bases will proceed in accordance with established national security timelines. As Somalia says Uganda’s troop withdrawal does not mean all forces are leaving, federal officials and international partners remain focused on executing a synchronized transition that supports long-term national sovereignty and regional security.