Uganda’s army chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has threatened to withdraw Ugandan troops from Somalia, accusing the United States of secretly negotiating with the Somalia-based jihadist group Al-Shabaab.
In a post on social media, Gen. Muhoozi questioned the logic of Uganda’s continued 18-year military involvement in Somalia while, according to him, Washington is allegedly engaged in covert talks with the very group Ugandan forces are fighting. He did not provide any evidence to support his claim.
Uganda remains a key contributor to the African Union mission in Somalia, currently operating under the banner of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). Launched in 2007, the mission aims to combat Al-Shabaab and support efforts to stabilize the country.
Neither the U.S. government nor Al-Shabaab has publicly responded to Muhoozi’s allegations.
The United States maintains a military presence in Somalia, with several hundred troops conducting airstrikes against Al-Shabaab leaders. U.S. forces are also involved in counterterrorism operations targeting Islamic State fighters in the mountainous Bari region, particularly around Al-Miskaad, where recent airstrikes have been reported.
Uganda was the first country to deploy troops under the AU mission in 2007 and continues to play a leading role, including securing key government installations in Mogadishu.
However, the future of the mission — set to transition into the African Union Somalia Support Mission (AUSSOM) — is increasingly uncertain. Funding shortfalls have emerged following decisions by the U.S. and European donors to reduce financial support, raising concerns about the mission’s long-term viability.
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