Somalia has asked Uganda to retain its troops in the country as African Union forces reportedly prepare to withdraw from several positions in Lower Shabelle in early November.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud made the request during a meeting with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Entebbe on 26 October, according to Uganda’s presidency. The statement said Mohamud thanked Uganda for its military contribution and requested a longer deployment to support operations against Al-Shabaab.
The presidency’s account did not announce an extension of the deployment or set out arrangements for retaining troops at particular bases. No agreed schedule for the reported redeployments was included in the Ugandan presidency’s statement. Museveni called for unity among Somali leaders in confronting Al-Shabaab and said political divisions had obstructed efforts to restore stability.
According to local reports published on 29 October, AU troops are expected to vacate four positions in Lower Shabelle the following week. Earlier accounts referred to three positions, leaving the number of sites and the proposed timetable unconfirmed.
Local reports also indicate that Ugandan personnel could be concentrated around Mogadishu’s Halane compound, with Somali forces expected to assume responsibility for the vacated positions. Daily Somalia has not independently verified these deployment plans.
The reported drawdown would place additional demands on Somali units taking over security responsibilities in the region. Regional reporting has linked Mohamud’s request to concerns about the readiness of replacement forces.
Ugandan troops operate under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia, known as AUSSOM, which supports Somali forces against Al-Shabaab. The mission’s transition involves transferring security responsibilities to national institutions.
The reported departures concern individual positions in Lower Shabelle. They do not confirm a complete Ugandan withdrawal from Somalia. The units responsible for taking over, the number of troops affected and the dates of any handovers remain unverified.
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