BAIDOA — Heavy fighting erupted in Baidoa on Monday after forces loyal to former South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen launched an assault on government positions in the city, triggering intense clashes with Somali federal troops and forces loyal to the South West State administration .
The fighting began early Monday morning and involved heavy weapons, with gunfire and explosions heard across Baidoa, about 250 kilometers west of Mogadishu . Forces loyal to Laftagareen launched an assault on positions held by federal forces and troops aligned with the South West State administration .
A spokesman for Laftagareen’s forces, Ugas Hassan Cabdi Maxamed, claimed that his forces had taken full control of Baidoa . He said the fighters had restored what he described as the city’s “freedom and dignity” and called on residents to come out of their homes and welcome the forces .
However, the Somali military strongly denied the claims, saying its forces had repelled the attack . In a statement, the military described the attackers as “Khawaarij” and said government forces had prevented them from seizing key positions in the city .
The conflicting claims could not be independently verified, and the situation in Baidoa remained tense. Residents reported sporadic gunfire in some parts of the city after the main clashes, while many people remained indoors amid fears that fighting could resume .
The federal government accused Laftagareen’s forces of fighting alongside Al-Shabaab militants . South West State Internal Security Minister Isak Mohamed Korsaar told reporters that government troops had recovered the bodies of Al-Shabaab fighters and captured others alive . Laftagareen’s supporters have rejected the federal government’s characterization of the fighters as Al-Shabaab .
Residents reported that Laftagareen’s forces later withdrew and federal troops regained full control of the city . Witnesses told AFP they saw both sides exchanging fire on some streets, and the fighting continued for several hours .
Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which runs facilities in the city, confirmed the fighting and said that “several casualties have reached the hospital” . At least four civilians were killed and 98 others wounded in the fighting, according to Dr. Abdikafi Omar Mohamud, head of the emergency department at Bay Regional Hospital .
Background and Political Context
The latest violence is part of a prolonged political and security dispute over control of South West State . Laftagareen was removed from office in March by the federal government after federal forces and allied local fighters entered Baidoa . He later rejected the change in leadership and continued to challenge the new administration .
Regional lawmakers elected Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur (Aadan Madoobe) as South West State leader on June 10, 2026, securing a landslide victory with 88 votes out of 90 in the regional parliament . His inauguration on July 6 was attended by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and senior federal officials .
However, the transition has been marked by a political standoff with Laftagareen, who continues to claim the legitimate presidency of South West State . Laftagareen maintains he is the lawful president and has pledged to return to Baidoa .
Critical Note
The fighting in Baidoa highlights the dangerous intersection of political rivalry and military confrontation in South West State. While the federal government frames the clashes as a counter-terrorism operation, the involvement of forces loyal to Laftagareen points to a deeper political crisis that cannot be resolved through military means alone. The competing narratives, one portraying the attackers as Al-Shabaab militants, the other as legitimate political opposition, reflect the deep mistrust that has come to define the relationship between Mogadishu and its regional adversaries.
Baidoa hosts hundreds of thousands of displaced people, and the renewed violence raises concerns about the safety of aid operations serving the city’s large displaced population. The international community must press for de-escalation and dialogue, while the federal government must address the grievances that have driven Laftagareen and his supporters to take up arms. Without a political settlement, the cycle of violence and displacement in South West State is likely to continue, with civilians bearing the heaviest burden.
