BAIDOA, Somalia — South West President Sheikh Adan Madobe returned to Baidoa on Saturday and delivered a pointed warning to forces associated with the region’s former leadership after fresh fighting in the city.
Members of the South West parliament, ministers, lawmakers, security officials and local residents welcomed the Villa Somalia-hand-picked leader Aden at Shaati Gaduud Airport following his working visit to Mogadishu.
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South West parliament speaker Mahad Mohamed Sheikh briefed Madobe on the region’s political and security conditions after his arrival. He said the security situation remained stable and claimed forces loyal to the former administration had suffered a significant defeat in their latest assault on Baidoa.
He commended the federal government and South West security forces for protecting civilians and preventing attacks by Al-Shabaab, which he referred to by the Somali term Khawaarij.
Madobe thanked residents and officials for the reception, while praising the armed forces and security agencies for their efforts to preserve stability and safeguard civilians throughout South West state.
His address then took a more confrontational turn as he spoke about leaders of the former administration, whom he said were carrying out activities on the outskirts of Baidoa.
Madobe said his administration would strike at the locations of those forces, comparing them with Al-Shabaab.
The warning followed recent clashes in Baidoa between forces aligned with rival political factions, adding to the deepening tensions between South West authorities and opponents of Madobe’s administration.
The standoff is part of wider political friction between Somalia’s federal government, regional administrations and opposition figures over elections, proposed constitutional changes and the division of political and security authority.
Madobe also appealed to young Somalis fighting with Al-Shabaab, urging them to reject what he called a misguided ideology and surrender to the government.
He said his administration was prepared to welcome anyone who abandoned militancy and sought to support peace, state-building and development.
The president’s remarks appeared to draw a distinction between political and armed opponents of his administration and young people aligned with Al-Shabaab, while renewing his government’s appeal for defections from the militant group.
Madobe further urged Baidoa residents to disregard what he described as propaganda and threatening messages being circulated on social media.
He said the people of South West deserved peace, stability and security, and called on residents to remain calm as political and security tensions rise.
Baidoa, the interim administrative capital of South West state, has become a central arena in Somalia’s broader political disputes. The city has previously seen clashes between rival security forces, underscoring the fragile ties between competing authorities.
Madobe’s latest warning is expected to further raise tensions as his administration works to consolidate control over Baidoa and nearby areas.
No independent casualty figures from the recent fighting were immediately available, and the rival faction had not responded to Madobe’s latest threat in the statement.
The developments come as Somalia works to strengthen its security institutions while continuing its campaign against Al-Shabaab, which remains capable of mounting attacks in parts of the country.
AXADLETM
