Somalia: Heavy gunfire and mortar explosions rock Baidoa for second day

BAIDOA, Somalia — Heavy gunfire and mortar explosions rocked Baidoa for a second consecutive day on Thursday as Southwest State security forces clashed with armed militias, in a deepening conflict that regional authorities blame on the federal government in Mogadishu.

The fighting has centered on the neighborhood surrounding the residence of Hassan Eelay, the Federal Minister for Livestock, Forestry and Range, according to residents and local officials.

Regional security officials said they were conducting a "clearing operation" against armed groups they characterized as gangs intent on destabilizing the city.

"Our forces will continue this operation until these armed elements are neutralized and order is restored," a senior South West State security official told Reuters, requesting anonymity.

The regional administration has accused the federal government of Somalia (FGS) of financing and providing logistical support to the militias to undermine the regional leadership. The federal government has not yet responded to requests for comment on the allegations.

The escalation comes amid a period of intense political friction between President Abdiaziz Laftagareen’s administration and the Mogadishu-based government over constitutional reforms and the timeline for upcoming national elections. Earlier this week, the federal government blocked flights carrying security details for regional leaders from landing in Mogadishu, citing security protocol breaches.

"The situation is very tense. We can hear heavy machine-gun fire and occasional blasts," said Adan Ahmed, a local shopkeeper who fled the city center. "Most businesses are shuttered, and people are staying indoors."

Baidoa, located 250 kilometers (155 miles) northwest of Mogadishu, is a strategic hub and the interim capital of Southwest State. It has frequently been a flashpoint for political violence and remains under constant threat from the al Qaeda-linked insurgent group al Shabaab, which controls large swathes of the surrounding countryside.

The current infighting between state and federal-aligned forces is likely to raise concerns among international partners that political divisions are distracting from the "total war" declared against al Shabaab militants.

GAROWE ONLINE