Foreign forces begin pullback from southern Somali city as security strains and funding cuts bite
MOGADISHU, July 6 – A phased pullback of foreign troops from a major city in southern Somalia is underway, following agreements between regional security chiefs and the federal government, according to documents reviewed by Axadle.
The papers say the city was chosen for the initial drawdown because local forces are not yet able to secure it alone, supply lines have faced repeated disruptions, and critical logistics cannot be assured until unresolved political questions are settled.
They also note that the troop-contributing nation plans to remove its additional contingent attached to the African Union mission, citing escalating threats along exposed supply routes and recent political shifts that have fueled instability in the area.
The timing coincides with the United States’ decision to halt support for the African Union mission and broader security assistance to Somalia, arguing there has been too little progress and that Somali political leaders have failed to resolve entrenched disputes.
The documents warn that the combination of the force reduction and the U.S. suspension has injected fresh uncertainty into Somalia’s federal security institutions.
Sources familiar with internal planning described a haphazard government response, with security agencies struggling to synchronize contingency plans as the withdrawal advances.
Neither Somalia’s federal authorities nor the African Union mission immediately responded to requests for comment on the reported drawdown or the documents’ contents.
AXADLETM
