Baidoa (AX) — South West State officials have urged Kenya to arrest former state President Abdiasis Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen and extradite him to Somalia, accusing him of responsibility for a wave of violence in Baidoa.
Speaking on Thursday about the latest unrest, Security Minister Osman Isaaq Mohamed said Laftagareen should be held accountable for recent attacks and bombings in the city.
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“We are requesting the Kenyan government to arrest Abdiasis Laftagareen and hand him over through Interpol to the Somali government so that he can be held accountable,” the minister said.
Mohamed also alleged that forces loyal to Laftagareen have links to Al-Shabaab and said the militias had worsened insecurity in Baidoa.
He said fighters aligned with the former president would face procedures similar to those used for Al-Shabaab members who defect and surrender to the authorities.
“In the past, we thought they were our brothers who had complaints, but now we have seen armed people who are linked to Al-Shabaab. If they surrender, the procedures for those who defect from Al-Shabaab will be followed,” he said.
The allegations made against Laftagareen and his forces have not been independently verified.
The minister spoke as tensions remain high following recent clashes between South West State forces and fighters loyal to Laftagareen, who is now based in Nairobi after leaving Baidoa.
The latest violence follows several days of mounting political and security tensions in Baidoa. Fighters loyal to the former president recently confronted government troops after trying to enter and seize control of parts of the city.
