Al-Shabaab militants have retaken territories in the Middle and Lower Shabelle regions of Somalia that were previously secured by Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and other foreign forces.
The militant group has intensified its operations, targeting areas vacated during the withdrawal of forces under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which transitioned into the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and is now referred to as AUSSOM.
Jacob Marksons Oboth, Uganda’s Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, confirmed the regained territories, urging peacekeeping nations to increase troop numbers to counter Al-Shabaab’s swift advances.
“I want to inform you that Al-Shabaab are reclaiming several areas previously secured. We must urgently address their growing threats and bolster ongoing stabilization efforts in Somalia,” Oboth stated.
Oboth spoke during an evaluation meeting in Kampala with senior peacekeeping commanders and security delegates from Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Uganda, and Egypt, assessing the mission that began in 2007.
Al-Shabaab has escalated its tactics since attacking the UPDF base at Buulo-Mareer in Lower Shabelle on May 26, 2023, resulting in 54 fatalities among Ugandan soldiers, including Base Commander Lt Col Edward Nyororo. Others were taken captive.
Troop numbers for the UPDF, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), and Burundi have decreased following the withdrawal of funding by permanent members of the United Nations Security Council in late 2021, citing AMISOM’s reduced effectiveness. UPDF forces dropped from over 6,000 to around 3,000, prompting commanders from Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to advocate for increased personnel to counter Al-Shabaab’s intensified attacks.
Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E. Amb. Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, expressed heartfelt appreciation for the nearly 20 years of sacrifice by Uganda and other TCCs.
“Your dedication and bravery have etched a legacy of African solidarity that history will honor. We now have a functional government, a growing national army, and clear political frameworks, but this battle cannot be completed without your support,” Fiqi remarked.
The plea for foreign reinforcements in Somalia has sparked doubts among UN Security Council permanent members, including the US, UK, France, and Germany, who believe Somalia’s National Forces should be equipped to handle their security needs independently.
