Somalia: IGAD urges 'restraint' amid SouthWest State standoff

DJIBOUTI – The Horn of Africa’s regional bloc IGAD on Sunday called for "restraint" and "inclusive dialogue" in Somalia following a sharp escalation in tensions between the federal government and the semi-autonomous SouthWest State.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which is an eight-nation organisation, said it was "closely monitoring developments" in the regional state as a political dispute threatens to devolve into armed confrontation.

"IGAD expresses concern over rising tensions and calls on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid actions that may escalate the situation," the Djibouti-based body said in a statement.

The appeal comes as the South West State accused the federal government in Mogadishu of having "cooperation" with Al-Shabaab militants. The regional presidency alleged that federal military personnel and equipment were recently granted safe passage through insurgent-controlled territory between Baidoa and Burhakaba.

SouthWest State authorities have characterised the link as a "threat to national security," further straining a relationship already fractured by disputes over constitutional reforms and the legitimacy of regional mandates.

In its statement, IGAD emphasised that the widening rift between the central government and federal member states "should be resolved through inclusive dialogue and established national mechanisms."

The bloc, which has long played a mediation role in Somalia’s decades-long effort to build a stable state, said it "stands ready to facilitate dialogue and reconciliation efforts" to protect the country’s "peace, stability, and unity."

The call comes as the Somali government sent troops from different parts of the country to Baidoa city to topple the regional president, who won a re-election on Saturday.

The standoff in Baidoa coincides with a broader political crisis in Somalia, as several regional states have rejected recent federal constitutional amendments, raising fears that internal infighting could undermine the long-running military offensive against the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab.

GAROWE ONLINE