Somalia: Forces Loyal to Ousted Southwest Leader Enter Baidoa as Heavy Fighting Erupts Ahead of Elections
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Staff Reporter GAROWE ONLINE
- Posted On 30-05-2026, 05:13AM
BAIDOA, Somalia, May 30 – Forces loyal to ousted Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen entered the regional capital of Baidoa on Friday following a morning assault, triggering heavy fighting inside the city just days before key regional elections, residents said.
Witnesses reported intense exchanges of gunfire and the use of heavy weapons in several parts of Baidoa, the administrative capital of Somalia’s Southwest State. Casualty figures were not immediately available, and independent verification of the battlefield situation remained difficult.
The clashes come at a critical moment for the region, which is scheduled to hold elections for the Speaker of Parliament and the President of Southwest State later this week.
Residents said armed fighters aligned with Laftagareen advanced into the city early in the day, leading to confrontations with forces supporting the current regional authorities. The extent of territorial control held by either side was not immediately clear.
Political tensions have remained high in Southwest State since March 30, when Laftagareen was removed from office following weeks of escalating disputes and a federal government-backed security operation in Baidoa.
His removal deepened divisions within the region, with supporters denouncing the move as illegitimate while opponents argued it was necessary to resolve a prolonged political crisis.
The latest violence has raised concerns over the security environment ahead of the planned elections, which are seen as crucial for determining the future leadership of the strategically important federal member state.
Neither the Somali federal government nor the Southwest State authorities had immediately issued an official statement on the fighting.
Southwest State, one of Somalia’s federal member states, has frequently experienced political disputes and security challenges, with Baidoa serving as a key political and administrative center in the country’s southwest.
GAROWE ONLINE
