KAMPALA, Oct 30 — Uganda announced today that it has begun withdrawing its troops from Somalia after nearly two decades of military involvement, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.
The move comes amid mounting financial pressure on the African Union peacekeeping mission after Washington decided to withdraw its funding and logistical support for the operation.
In a diplomatic note sent on July 1, the US informed the African Union that it would oppose the renewal of the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) at the UN Security Council if the authorisation includes logistical or operational backing from the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS).
Washington indicated growing frustration with the Federal Government of Somalia, citing insufficient progress in security sector reforms and a failure by local national forces to take full, independent ownership of their territory after nearly two decades of international intervention.
