Uganda begins troop withdrawal from Somalia

Uganda has begun withdrawing troops deployed in Somalia under a bilateral security agreement, and its military says the first group of soldiers has returned home. The Ugandan military also says all its forces, including those serving with an African Union mission, will leave Somalia by the end of 2027. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces said the bilateral drawdown began immediately and is expected to be completed in the next few days. The longer timetable covers Ugandan personnel serving with the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, known as AUSSOM, as well as those deployed under the bilateral arrangement. Military spokesman Col. Chris Magezi said thousands of Ugandan troops remain in Somalia. The available reports do not provide a clear total for the forces covered by the withdrawal. Uganda’s military said the departure would end its peace and stabilization operations in Somalia and allow Somali forces to take full responsibility for security. Ugandan troops first deployed to Somalia in 2007 under an African Union mission, according to the military and reporting on the deployment. The successive missions have supported Somali authorities against...