At least seven Ugandan soldiers serving under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) have been killed in a three-day battle against al-Shabaab militants in the Lower Shabelle region, Uganda’s Defence ministry confirmed on Sunday, June 22.
The troops were part of a regional peacekeeping force aimed at stabilising Somalia and countering the terrorist threat posed by the Al-Qaeda-affiliated group. AUSSOM, which succeeded the previous ATMIS mission, has been facing critical shortages in both personnel and funding, with a reported need for 8,000 additional troops.
The deadly siege comes amid growing concerns that al-Shabaab may be regaining strength after being significantly weakened in 2022 and 2023 by joint operations involving Somali forces and AU peacekeepers. Recent high-profile attacks, including one targeting President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s convoy in Mogadishu, have heightened fears of a renewed wave of violence. The fall and subsequent recapture of the town in Lower Shabelle underscore the ongoing volatility in Somalia, as well as the urgent need for sustained international support to prevent further deterioration of security in the Horn of Africa.