BAIDOA — South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed (Laftagareen) and loyal political allies are currently holding emergency meetings at the Presidential Palace in Baidoa, as federal forces claim to have seized control of the contested regional capital following heavy military clashes.
Federal Forces Claim Control
The high-stakes meetings come at a time of extreme tension within Baidoa after fierce fighting erupted in recent hours. According to the State Minister for Interior, Sadad Mohamed Nur, who is currently on the ground, federal government forces—supported by allied local militias known as the South West Salvation—have successfully taken over strategic parts of the city and are rapidly expanding their presence.
The Federal Government of Somalia issued an official press release declaring that its forces have taken full operational control of Baidoa, effectively expelling units loyal to Laftagareen. This decisive military push follows Mogadishu’s recent severe rejection of Laftagareen’s hasty re-election, which federal authorities condemned as an “illegal pseudo-election.”
Securing the City and Supply Routes
“Security officers are inside the city of Baidoa, where they are conducting operations to ensure security, after militias misled by the former leader of the South West administration were removed from the city,” read the official statement from the Federal Government.
In a parallel development, the government stated that the national armed forces have successfully secured and reopened the crucial arterial road connecting the capital, Mogadishu, directly to Baidoa. This vital strategic supply route had previously been subjected to blockades by the Al-Shabaab militant group.
The situation in Baidoa remains highly volatile as stabilization operations continue. The international community is expected to closely monitor the fallout of this political and military crisis, especially given recent urgent warnings from the United Nations regarding the devastating impact of armed conflict on Somalia’s broader state-building efforts.
