African Union Troops Move to Secure Bases as Ugandan Forces Withdraw From Somalia

Security arrangements near Mogadishu will shift this month as African Union peacekeepers prepare to replace departing Ugandan soldiers. The move aims to stop al-Shabab militants from filling the vacuum left by the withdrawal. This transition affects the daily safety of residents in the Lower Shabelle region, a corridor vital for protecting the capital.

The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia intends to take control of four specific positions during November rotations. These bases are named Sabid-Anole, Bariire, Awdheegle, and Bulonagad. A letter sent to the United Nations support office in Somalia describes these locations as critical for the defense of Mogadishu. The document was obtained by The Associated Press.

Uganda announced on Monday that the first phase of its departure has begun. Soldiers deployed under a bilateral agreement with the Somali government are expected to finish leaving within days. Col. Chris Magezi, a military spokesman, confirmed that the initial group has already returned home. Uganda plans to withdraw all remaining forces, including those serving in the African Union mission, by the end of 2027. This timeline ends a twenty-year military presence in the country.

The immediate departure of the bilateral troops follows a funding shortage, according to Farhan Isak Yusuf, deputy executive director of the Somali Public Agenda. He noted that the Ugandan military did not explain why the initial withdrawal is happening immediately. The original deployment occurred after an April 2025 summit where African leaders urged the addition of more peacekeepers. Over the following 17 months, these troops helped recapture territory from al-Shabab.

Somali army commander Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud visited forces in Barawe on Monday. He instructed troops to remain on high alert and intensify operations against the militants. The army statement did not specify if Somali soldiers would assume control of the bases currently held by the African Union. Barawe, a port town about 220 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu, was captured from al-Shabab in 2014. The group had used the port to import weapons and export charcoal to fund its activities.

The withdrawal occurs shortly after the United Nations political mission in Somalia closed its operations. This ended more than three decades of international involvement in rebuilding the country and mediating disputes. While aid agencies remain, the political closure has highlighted a dispute over the president's right to stay in office. In a recent ambush in the Bay region, at least 20 Somali soldiers were killed, according to a surviving officer. The government confirmed damage to military vehicles but did not initially disclose the number of troop casualties.