RismadarVoice Reporters
September 3, 2026
Somalia’s military says it has repelled an armed assault on Baidoa, the largest city in the country’s South West State, after clashes involving forces loyal to former Governor Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen.
The attack began early Thursday with explosions and gunfire across parts of the city, according to Somalia’s Defence Ministry, which accused armed groups linked to Laftagareen of launching the assault.
In a statement, the ministry said government forces responded to the attack and inflicted losses on the attackers, describing the operation as a successful defence of the city.
“The attack began with explosions intended to terrorise civilians, but the army responded and defeated the attackers,” the ministry said.
The fighting lasted several hours, with residents reporting heavy gunfire and explosions that forced many civilians to remain indoors.
A spokesperson for the pro-Laftagareen forces told AFP that their fighters had captured parts of Baidoa and that clashes were continuing. However, several residents later reported that the city had returned to calm after about six hours of fighting.
The Defence Ministry said it was assessing the number of casualties among the attackers and would release further details after completing its investigation.
POLITICAL DIVISIONS IN SOUTH WEST STATE
The latest violence comes amid ongoing political tensions between Somalia’s federal government and regional authorities opposed to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s efforts to introduce a new electoral system.
Laftagareen, who was removed as South West State governor earlier this year, has remained a key opponent of the federal government’s political reforms.
In March, government forces moved to remove him from power, while his supporters later launched an unsuccessful attempt to retake control of the state in May.
In August, Laftagareen-aligned forces also clashed with federal troops over control of Baidoa.
Somalia’s Defence Ministry has accused the armed groups involved in the latest assault of cooperating with al-Shabab, the armed group that continues to control significant areas of central Somalia and has carried out repeated attacks against government and civilian targets.
The federal government is also facing broader security challenges as it continues military operations against al-Shabab while attempting to strengthen political control across the country.
