Somalia: Laftagareen’s Forces Expand Territorial Gains in Southwest as Buurhakaba Falls

BUURHAKABA, Somalia — Forces loyal to ousted Southwest State leader Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen have captured the strategic town of Buurhakaba in the Bay region following heavy clashes with troops aligned with the federal government and the administration led by Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur Madobe, officials said on Thursday.

The takeover marks a further escalation in the struggle for control of Southwest State, with Laftagareen-aligned forces also having taken control of Qansahdhere, another district in the Bay region, in recent days. The developments are putting additional pressure on the administration installed in Baidoa with the backing of Mogadishu.

Fighting in Buurhakaba began early Thursday, with residents reporting heavy gunfire and explosions as Laftagareen's forces attacked positions held by federal troops and regional forces supporting Madobe. Fighters loyal to the former regional leader subsequently entered parts of the town, according to local reports.

Hassan Abdi, a former spokesman for the Southwest administration who is aligned with Laftagareen, said in a video circulated on social media that the forces had entered Buurhakaba and would remain there. He urged residents to welcome the troops and said they would not target individuals.

The extent of the forces' control and the number of casualties were not immediately independently verified. Somalia's federal government and the administration led by Madobe had not publicly commented on the reported takeover at the time of publication.

Buurhakaba occupies a strategic position along the main road connecting Mogadishu with Baidoa, the administrative capital of Southwest State. Control of the town could affect the movement of security forces, commercial transport and supplies along the route.

The reported capture follows the takeover of Qansahdhere, where Laftagareen-aligned forces said they had established control earlier this month. The successive advances indicate that the former leader's supporters are seeking to expand their presence beyond areas where they have maintained influence since his removal from power.

Laftagareen was ousted in March after federal forces took control of Baidoa amid a dispute over the leadership of Southwest State. Madobe subsequently emerged as the head of the administration backed by Mogadishu, but Laftagareen's supporters have continued to challenge the change in leadership through armed mobilization and repeated clashes.

The confrontation has deepened political and security tensions in the region, where disputes over authority have increasingly spilled into fighting. The latest developments raise concerns about further clashes and the impact on civilians, particularly if the fighting spreads toward Baidoa.

The security situation remained fluid on Thursday, and it was unclear whether federal-backed forces would launch a counteroffensive or whether Laftagareen-aligned troops could consolidate their position in Buurhakaba.

GAROWE ONLINE