Uganda’s President Threatens to Withdraw Troops From Somalia

Museveni

NAIROBI (Somaliguardian) – Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday threatened that his country would pull out its peacekeepers serving the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia amid rift between the countries most powerful leaders and said the Horn of Africa country’s troops have been unable to shoulder responsibility for the security of the war-torn country.

Museveni said the failure to defeat the Al-Qaeda-aligned militant group Al-Shabaab came because “the internal forces don’t come up to shoulder their responsibility” and “if they did the situation would have been solved long ago”.

We cannot have grafted situations, we must have organically developped situations. The body must be able to defend itself, because if the body cannot defend itself that means you are suffering from political AIDS,” he said.

Asked if he would withdraw Ugandan troops from Somalia if situation does not improve, Museveni said: “Of course, if the internal forces [Somali government troops] don’t come up”, adding that he does not “believe in external military presence” and where it must happen “it must be for a very limited time”.

Ugandan president noted that he wanted to withdraw troops from Somalia “but people prevailed on us” and reiterated that Somalia’s forces and government “should defend themselves”.

The remarks have come amid escalating dispute between the Horn of Africa country’s presient and prime minister over issues, including the murder of a female spy and the dismissal of intelligence chief, a key ally of the president.

Contact us: info@somaliguardian.com