Somalia Says Ugandan Forces Not Fully Withdrawing

MOGADISHU, 4 November 2026 The federal government has said Ugandan forces are not fully withdrawing from Somalia, clarifying that troops currently redeploying are stationed under a bilateral agreement, not under the African Union mission.

National Security Adviser Amb. Awes Hagi Yusuf said it was important to distinguish between bilateral Ugandan forces and the Ugandan contingent deployed under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

“The personnel currently redeploying are primarily bilateral forces operating under separate arrangements between the Governments of Somalia and Uganda,” he said. “The Ugandan contingent serving under AUSSOM, however, remains in Somalia and continues to discharge its mandate alongside other contributing partner forces and the Somali National Army.”

He said the redeployment “should not be misconstrued as a complete withdrawal of Ugandan military personnel from Somalia.”

The statement came as Awes Hagi on Tuesday chaired a tripartite meeting at Villa Somalia attended by the federal government, AUSSOM and the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS).