{
  "id": 17789004,
  "title": "Uganda starts withdrawing troops from Somalia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/uganda-starts-withdrawing-troops-from-somalia",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-02T11:35:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "KahawaTungu",
    "slug": "kahawatungu",
    "url": "https://kahawatungu.com/uganda-starts-withdrawing-troops-from-somalia/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Uganda has commenced the withdrawal of its military personnel from Somalia following a two-decade-long presence in the country. The initial batch of 109 soldiers from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) departed from the capital, Mogadishu, on Friday, as announced by the army chief, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba. The spokesperson for Uganda's acting army, Chris Magezi, has yet to respond to inquiries from the BBC.\n\nUganda was the pioneering African nation to dispatch troops to Somalia under the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom), established in 2007 to shield the country's transitional government from assaults by Islamist militants. Gen Muhoozi disclosed last week that Uganda had initiated the process of removing its troops and would transfer security duties to Somali forces. He declared on X, \"As we promised, we have started withdrawing UPDF from Somalia. After 20 years of blood and sacrifice, we are handing over security to our Somali brothers.\"\n\nThe withdrawal is proceeding in stages and is projected to conclude in August 2027. Nonetheless, Uganda will retain a military presence in Somalia through a distinct bilateral security agreement. Currently, around 4,500 troops from the Africa Union mission, along with approximately 2,000 stationed under bilateral arrangements, are present in Somalia. Somalia has been grappling with an ongoing and lethal insurgency led by al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-affiliated militant organization, for over two decades. Initially, Ugandan forces entered the country in 2007 and played a crucial role in expelling al-Shabab from Mogadishu and other significant cities. They collaborated with the Somali National Army to reclaim strategic areas and secure vital government installations. Ugandan troops sustained their military engagement under various African Union missions, including the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (Atmis), which commenced with the objective of progressively transferring security responsibilities to Somalia. It was succeeded in 2025 by the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (Aussom), which concentrates on fortifying Somalia's security institutions and equipping its forces to assume complete responsibility for the nation's security. Aussom now confronts uncertainty regarding its future funding, as discussions unfold to discontinue US and UN support. A 12-month transition plan is slated to initiate in January, providing Somalia and the AU with time to explore alternative funding sources.",
  "summary": "Uganda has begun withdrawing its troops from Somalia after nearly two decades of military involvement in the country. The first contingent of 109 Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) troops reportedly left the capital, Mogadishu, on Friday, following an announcement by Uganda’s army chief, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba. Uganda’s acting army spokesperson, Chris Magezi, did not respond [...] The post…",
  "key_points": [
    "Uganda begins withdrawing troops from Somalia after 20 years.",
    "First batch of 109 UPDF soldiers departs from Mogadishu.",
    "Withdrawal projected to end in August 2027."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "Uganda begins withdrawing troops from Somalia after 20 years",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/uganda-begins-withdrawing-troops-from-somalia-after-20-years",
        "published": "2026-11-02T08:55:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Capital FM Kenya",
        "title": "Uganda begins withdrawing troops from Somalia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/uganda-begins-withdrawing-troops-from-somalia",
        "published": "2026-11-02T09:18:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Uganda begins withdrawing peacekeeping troops that helped repel militants in Somalia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/uganda-begins-withdrawing-peacekeeping-troops-that-helped-repel",
        "published": "2026-11-02T11:31:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW English (Top Stories)",
        "title": "Uganda begins withdrawing troops from Somalia after two decades",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/uganda-begins-withdrawing-troops-from-somalia-after-two-decades",
        "published": "2026-11-02T12:19:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Uganda begins withdrawing troops from Somalia after 20 years",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/uganda-begins-withdrawing-troops-from-somalia-after-20-years-17794298",
        "published": "2026-11-02T12:24:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Uganda begins troop withdrawal from Somalia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/uganda-begins-troop-withdrawal-from-somalia",
        "published": "2026-11-02T12:36:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}