MOGADISHU, Somalia – Heavy fighting has erupted in Baidoa between Somali federal forces and armed groups loyal to former South West State leader Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, in the latest escalation of a months-long political dispute.
Residents reported intense gunfire in the city centre and northern neighbourhoods, including Towfiiq. A local resident and a military officer told Reuters that Laftagareen-aligned fighters had entered the city from two directions and clashed with federal troops.
Laftagareen’s spokesperson claimed that his forces had captured Baidoa and called on federal troops to surrender. The claim could not be independently verified.
South West State security officials, however, said the city remained under their control and rejected claims that it had been seized by the former leader’s forces.
The competing accounts come amid reports of fighting in several neighbourhoods and disruptions to communications, making it difficult to establish the extent of the clashes or who controls individual areas.
Why are they fighting?
The confrontation follows a deep political dispute between Somalia’s federal government and the South West State leadership over constitutional changes, elections and the balance of power between Mogadishu and the federal member states.
In March, Somali federal forces took control of Baidoa after relations with Mr Laftagareen’s administration collapsed. He subsequently resigned as South West State president.
Before the takeover, South West State had suspended cooperation with the federal government, accusing Mogadishu of attempting to remove its leadership and interfere in the state’s affairs.
The dispute has since remained unresolved, with competing political and security forces continuing to contest influence around the city.
Concerns for civilians
Baidoa is one of Somalia’s major humanitarian centres and hosts large numbers of people displaced by conflict and drought.
Humanitarian organisations have warned that renewed fighting could further endanger displaced families and disrupt aid operations. A July assessment by Médecins Sans Frontières found severe malnutrition among a significant proportion of children living at displacement sites in the city.
Residents have reported civilian casualties, although no reliable overall death toll has yet emerged.
The latest violence also risks complicating Somalia’s broader efforts to address its political divisions at a time when federal authorities are already facing disagreements with several regional administrations.
For residents of Baidoa, the immediate concern is whether the latest confrontation will subside or develop into a prolonged struggle for control of the city.
