Seven Ugandan soldiers have lost their lives during fierce fighting with Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia, Uganda’s military confirmed on Sunday, highlighting the continued security challenges facing the African Union mission in the country.
The Ugandan troops were part of the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), tasked with helping Somali forces battle the insurgents.
The deaths occurred during a prolonged three-day siege on a town in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region, which was eventually retaken from Al-Shabaab fighters, according to Uganda’s defence ministry.
Ugandan People’s Defence Force spokesman Felix Kulayigye told AFP, “Unfortunately, we lost seven soldiers during the battle.”
The incident adds to growing concerns about a possible resurgence of Al-Shabaab, particularly as AUSSOM grapples with limited manpower and financial constraints.
The mission, which replaced the former African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), currently fields around 11,146 troops but had already called for 8,000 additional personnel in April to meet its operational needs.
Although Somali forces, with support from AU peacekeepers, had successfully pushed Al-Shabaab onto the defensive in 2022 and 2023, the group’s recent offensives suggest it is regaining strength.
In March, militants even targeted Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s convoy in the capital, Mogadishu, underscoring the group’s enduring threat.
Somalia has been battling Al-Shabaab’s violent insurgency for over 15 years, as the Al-Qaeda-affiliated group continues to seek control over swathes of the country.
