South West State Tightens Baidoa Security

BAIDOA – South West State President Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur (Madoobe) led a security meeting in Baidoa on Thursday, where officials approved new steps to strengthen security throughout the state. The session, which included the Minister of Security and senior security commanders, assessed the current security situation and approved key decisions, including a ban on soldiers carrying weapons in the city without official military uniforms and limits on military vehicles moving through Baidoa unless assigned to official missions.

Officials also endorsed planned operations to reopen roads connecting districts across South West State and committed to expanding security efforts in cooperation with local communities. President Madoobe stressed that closer coordination between security agencies and the public is essential to preserving peace and stability across the region.

Background of the Security Crackdown

The latest security measures build on a series of similar directives implemented in Baidoa since the federal government assumed control of the city in late March. The Somali Federal Government has enacted a nighttime curfew in Baidoa, prohibiting civilians from carrying weapons in the city during evening hours, with exceptions for authorized security personnel such as police and NISA officers. Authorities also intensified night patrols and instituted more rigorous inspections of vehicles and individuals entering the city.

Somali Police Commissioner Asad Osman Abdullahi has convened a high-level strategic gathering with police personnel deployed in Baidoa, directing law enforcement officials to immediately enhance tactical collaboration with other federal security entities. The police command issued an absolute ban forbidding all non-security personnel from possessing or carrying weapons after dark within the city limits.

Political Transition and Federal Control

The security measures coincide with a broader political transition in South West State. Federal Government forces, heavily supported by allied local militias known as the “South West Salvation,” formally seized control of Baidoa through overwhelming military force in late March, triggering a rapid shift in the political landscape of the regional administration. Following his official resignation and negotiated exit from the regional presidency, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed (Laftagareen) departed the country after seven years in power.

President Madoobe was elected as the new president of South West State in June, securing a landslide victory in the regional leadership election held in Baidoa. The Independent National Electoral and Boundaries Commission announced that Madoobe received 88 votes in the presidential election, while his sole challenger received one vote.

Reopening Roads and Expanding Security Operations

One of the key decisions endorsed during Thursday’s meeting was the planned reopening of roads connecting districts across South West State. Army Commander Ibrahim Mohamed Mahmoud recently issued rank promotions to troops who successfully reopened the vital Mogadishu‑Baidoa road, which had been under militant blockade since 2009. The road had long been under severe threat and intermittent blockade by Al‑Shabaab militants.

Intensified Offensive Against Al-Shabaab

The Commander of the Somali National Army, Brigadier General Ibrahim Mohamed Mahmoud, arrived in Baidoa to accelerate military operations against Al‑Shabaab and strengthen security across South West State. Somali National Army forces, operating with close‑air and intelligence support from international partners, recently eliminated 12 Al‑Shabaab militants during a coordinated security operation in the Daynuney area of southwestern Somalia.

Security has been further reinforced in South West State with the deployment of additional police units, national intelligence agents, and special forces throughout Baidoa. The federal government has maintained that expanded military operations remain central to efforts aimed at restoring security and state authority in the region.