Ethiopia: Fighting Erupts in Somalia's Baidoa Between Federal Forces, Former Southwest President Loyalists

What the report says

Heavy fighting broke out in central Baidoa, Somalia, on Monday between federal forces and armed groups loyal to former South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, according to Addis Standard as republished by AllAfrica. The clashes marked a fresh escalation in a political and security dispute that has unsettled the regional capital since March.

The report said militias aligned with Laftagareen approached the city from two directions and fought two battalions of federal troops. Residents and a military source cited by Reuters described the use of heavy weapons, while a local shopkeeper said stray fire killed at least two civilians and injured others inside their homes. Laftagareen’s spokesperson said on Facebook that his side had taken control of Baidoa, but that claim could not be independently confirmed.

Mogadishu said its positions were attacked by armed groups that included Al-Shabaab fighters and Laftagareen-aligned militias. It said nearly 30 attackers were killed and several others captured, though the overall casualty figure remained unclear amid conflicting claims. Local media reported fighting in several neighborhoods, and communications were disrupted as videos online showed armed men, technical vehicles and smoke over parts of the city.

The confrontation follows months of tension over control of Baidoa, a strategically important city and major humanitarian hub. The city has already seen federal forces seize key sites in March, Laftagareen later step down, and a new South West State president elected in June. The latest violence underlines how fragile the balance remains in Somalia’s federal system.