The Defence Ministry accused fighters loyal to former South West State president Laftagareen of joining Al-Shabaab. South West State authorities said 40 attackers were killed.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Somali Report) — Somalia's government forces repelled an early-morning attack in the strategic southwestern city of Baidoa on Thursday, the Defence Ministry said, accusing fighters loyal to a former regional president of joining forces with Al-Shabaab militants.
The deadly fighting erupted at about 4:15 a.m. after armed groups launched an assault on the city, the ministry said in a statement.
The attackers included militias loyal to former South West State president Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen and Al-Shabaab fighters who had “merged” with them, according to the Defence Ministry.
The Somali Federal Government forces mounted a strong response and pushed back the assault, the ministry said, adding that the attack began with explosions intended to spread fear among residents.
There was no immediate independent confirmation of the ministry's account or of the alleged involvement of Al-Shabaab fighters in the attack.
The ministry said an assessment was underway to determine the casualties and other losses suffered by the attacking forces, and that official details would be released once the assessment had been completed.
There was no immediate information on casualties among government forces or civilians.
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Baidoa, the administrative capital of Somalia's South West State, has been gripped by heightened political and security tensions involving the federal government and groups supporting Laftagareen.
The latest violence which left senior military officials killed and wounded underscores the volatile political situation in the city, where disputes over regional leadership have increasingly been accompanied by armed confrontations.
Somalia has for years faced a deadly insurgency by Al-Shabaab, an Islamist militant group that controls or exerts influence over parts of the country's rural areas and regularly carries out attacks against government forces, security installations and civilian targets.
The Defence Ministry's accusation that fighters loyal to Laftagareen had joined Al-Shabaab militants marks a serious escalation in the rhetoric surrounding the political dispute.
Supporters of the former regional leader have not immediately commented on the ministry's allegations. Authorities did not say how long the fighting lasted or whether government forces had made arrests following the attack.
The ministry said security forces remained in control of the situation as efforts continued to assess the aftermath of the violence. Meanwhile, Southwest state issued a statement saying 40 Al-Shabaab members were killed in the foiled attack.
Baidoa has been a key political and security centre in southwestern Somalia and has played an important role in the country's long-running efforts to combat Al-Shabaab. Since May, the southern city witnessed at least six attacks from the ousted Southwest State leader Abdulaziz Lafta-Gareen.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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