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[QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 35706, member: 636"]
Al-Shabaab fighters have taken back areas once held by Ugandan troops in Somalia. The terror group attacks places where African Union forces have left during their planned withdrawal. Defense Minister Jacob Marksons Oboth says the terrorists control many locations previously considered secure. He told other defense officials they need more soldiers to fight against these rapid Al-Shabaab advances. Military leaders from Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Uganda, and Egypt met in Kampala to discuss the worsening situation.

The militants have grown stronger since their deadly attack on a Ugandan base in May 2023. They killed 54 Ugandan soldiers at Buulo-Mareer base, with the commander among those who died. African forces have decreased their numbers greatly after the UN Security Council nations stopped funding. Uganda cut its troops from 6,000 to about 3,000 soldiers. Military commanders believe they must increase these numbers again to counter the dangerous terrorist attacks.

Somalia's Foreign Minister, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, thanked Uganda for almost twenty years of help. He said Somalia has a working government and a growing army, but cannot defeat the terrorists alone. This call for more foreign troops raises questions about claims from Western nations. The United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany had said Somali forces should handle their security needs. Recent events suggest the Somali military remains unprepared for this responsibility.
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