Uganda begins pulling its troops out of Somalia after 20 years battling Al-Shabab militants as US funding dries up

An initial cohort of 109 soldiers left Mogadishu on Friday, with the Ugandan military saying Somali forces must now take full responsibility for security.

The withdrawal follows Washington's decision to cut funding for the UN logistics office the AU mission depends on, throwing the entire coalition into doubt.

Uganda's exit comes as the UN simultaneously closed its own political mission in Somalia on Saturday, after more than three decades of peacebuilding work.

Al-Shabab still controls large swaths of central Somalia, and the US has accused the Somali government of failing to unite the country or implement promised reforms.