Uganda has officially begun the phased withdrawal of its military forces from Somalia, marking a critical turning point in East Africa’s longest -running counter terrorism mission.
Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba announced decision and the drawdown began over the weekend, with the first group of 109 soldiers.
The complete exit is scheduled for August next year.
This after Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni declined to delay the retreat despite an emergency personal from Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Uganda was the first nation to deploy peacekeeping forces to Mogadishu in March 2007 under the African Union Mission in Somalia and over the years the Ugandan forces became the largest single troop contributor to successive African Union stabilisation efforts.
–ChannelAfrica–
