Somali government forces say they have repelled an Al-Shabaab attack on Baidoa involving fighters allied with former South West State President Abdiaziz Laftagareen, as tensions in the city escalate.
BAIDOA, Somalia (Somali Report) — Somali government forces said they had repelled an attack by Al-Shabaab fighters and allied forces loyal to former South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen on Baidoa on Monday.
The Somali National Army said the attack began with explosions before Al-Shabaab fighters attempted to enter the city, according to SNA Radio, the military’s media outlet. Locals said Lafta-Gareen loyal forces attacked the city from different directions and took control of several areas during the combat.
Government forces responded to the assault and inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers, SNA Radio reported, without providing a specific figure for those killed or wounded.
The military said its forces remained in full control of Baidoa, the interim administrative capital of South West State, and were conducting operations in areas where the attackers had retreated.
SNA Radio also reported that the attacking forces fled the battlefield, leaving behind bodies and wounded fighters. The military outlet did not publish evidence to independently verify the claims or provide details of the casualties.
Monday’s fighting comes amid heightened political and security tensions in Baidoa, where forces aligned with the federal government have been facing opposition from troops loyal to Laftagareen, who was removed as South West State president earlier this year.
The dispute has deepened divisions within South West State and added to wider political tensions between the federal government and opposition groups over the country’s political transition and upcoming elections.
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The federal government has accused forces aligned with Laftagareen of destabilising Baidoa, while Laftagareen and his supporters have rejected the government’s position and continued to challenge the authority of the administration led by Sheikh Aadan Mohamed Nur Madobe.
The latest clashes also raise concerns about the potential involvement of Al-Shabaab in the conflict. The Somali military said the militant group took part in Monday’s assault alongside forces supporting the former South West State administration, but did not provide further evidence.
Baidoa has been a key political and military centre in southern Somalia and hosts large numbers of displaced people who have fled conflict and drought in other parts of the country.
The city has also faced repeated security incidents as the federal government seeks to consolidate its control and advance its political and security agenda in South West State.
Somalia has been battling Al-Shabaab, an armed group affiliated with al-Qaida, for more than 15 years. The group remains capable of carrying out deadly attacks despite sustained military operations by Somali forces and international partners.
The latest confrontation comes as Somalia continues to face political disputes over the country’s electoral process and the distribution of power between the federal government, regional administrations and opposition groups.
There was no immediate independent confirmation of the military’s account of Monday’s fighting, and the number of casualties remained unclear.
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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