Ugandan troops hand over Barawe and Shalanbood to Somali army in major security test

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Ugandan troops have handed over responsibility for security in the strategic towns of Barawe and Shalanbood in southern Somalia to the Somali National Army (SNA), ending more than a decade of military presence in the areas and presenting a critical test of the country’s ability to secure territory without sustained foreign military support.

The handover of military bases in the two towns marks a significant development in Somalia’s ongoing security transition, particularly in the Lower Shabelle region, where Al-Shabaab retains a significant operational presence and continues to pose a threat to government-held territory.

Barawe, a strategically important coastal town and port, and Shalanbood, a key settlement along a major transport corridor connecting population centres across Lower Shabelle, occupy important positions in the region’s security architecture. Their continued control is considered vital to maintaining government authority and safeguarding key lines of communication.

The transfer comes as Uganda begins withdrawing its troops from Somalia under separate bilateral arrangements with the Federal Government, while preparing to gradually scale back its military contribution to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

Ugandan military spokesman Col. Chris Magezi announced on Monday that the withdrawal of troops deployed under bilateral arrangements would take effect immediately. He said the phased drawdown would eventually encompass all Ugandan forces serving in Somalia, including those under the AU mission, with the withdrawal expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

The departure of Ugandan troops places renewed scrutiny on the operational readiness, logistical capacity and territorial-holding capabilities of Somali security forces, whose ability to consolidate control over recently transferred positions remains a persistent concern.

The risks are underscored by previous setbacks in which Somali forces lost control of strategic settlements following the transfer of security responsibilities from African Union contingents. Multiple locations, including Biyo Cadde, Miirtaqwo, El Baraf and Mahas, have experienced security reversals, highlighting the difficulties facing government forces in sustaining territorial control after international troops withdraw.

Whether Barawe and Shalanbood can avoid a similar trajectory remains uncertain. Both towns are situated in a region where Al-Shabaab has maintained a significant presence, raising concerns that any security vacuum or operational shortcomings could provide the militant group with opportunities to intensify its attacks and reclaim lost ground.

The handover also comes at a politically sensitive juncture, as deepening political divisions and intensifying power struggles threaten to undermine the government’s ability to maintain a sustained focus on national security. The competing political priorities risk diverting attention and resources from military operations and the broader campaign against the insurgency.

For Somalia, the transition represents more than a routine change of military command. It is a test of whether national forces can translate the transfer of security responsibilities into durable territorial control, prevent militant advances and protect strategically important population centres as international military support gradually recedes.

The outcome in Barawe and Shalanbood could therefore offer an important indication of the Somali National Army’s preparedness to assume a greater share of the country’s security responsibilities.

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