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Somalia: African Union to withdraw troops starting 2018

Somalia

The African Union has announced its intention to begin withdrawing its troops from Somalia by October 2018 with a complete withdrawal expected by the end of 2020.

The exit strategy of the AU will see the Somali army begin to assume full responsibilities for security between 2018 and 2020.

The 22.000 AMISOM force was deployed to Somalia in 2007 and has been influential in stabilising the country as it battles the al-Shabab terrorist group.

The force has in recent times however been facing some challenges adapting to the guerrilla warfare strategy of al-shabab which has rendered it handicapped in some areas.

Faced with this lack of significant progress, Uganda which has the largest contingent of approximately 6.000 men recently announced its intentions to withdraw its troops from Somalia by the end of 2017.

Kenya had also threatened to withdraw its 3.700 AMISOM force after the European Union decided to reduce its contribution to the force by 20 percent.

News Agencies

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