At least 10 injured as Baidoa, Somalia security forces clash with armed group

BAIDOA, Somalia — At least 10 people were wounded after two days of heavy fighting between Southwest state security forces and armed militia groups rocked Baidoa, shuttering businesses, snarling transport and cutting communications in parts of the city, residents and local officials said.

The clashes erupted Wednesday and continued into Thursday, beginning as a land dispute before spiraling into broader unrest with political undertones, according to witnesses. Residents reported the use of heavy weapons in several neighborhoods of the regional capital, prompting shopkeepers to close early and commuters to seek shelter as gunfire echoed through the streets.

By late Thursday, Southwest Information Minister Mohamed Ibrahim Bilal said the situation had been brought under control and dismissed the violence as criminality rather than a political confrontation.

“In the past few hours, gangs and thugs have been wreaking havoc in Baidoa city,” Bilal said. “For the first time, they attacked the livestock market, harassing traders and civilians.”

He insisted the armed groups were not political opponents. “We assure the Somali people that the gangs responsible for the chaos in Baidoa were criminal gangs, not opposition or politically affiliated groups,” he said.

“As I speak to you, I can assure you that these gangs have been completely dismantled. Security is now fully under the control of the South West Region security forces,” he added.

Despite official assurances, residents described a city still on edge. Public movement remained limited in some districts, and transport operators curtailed routes amid uncertainty. Communications were cut in parts of Baidoa during the height of the clashes, complicating efforts by families to check on relatives and by businesses to coordinate deliveries and staffing.

There were no immediate reports of fatalities, and details on the identities of the wounded were not available. Authorities did not announce any arrests. The federal government in Mogadishu had not commented as of Thursday evening.

The fighting underscored the fragility of security in southern Somalia, where local disputes can rapidly escalate in urban centers. Baidoa, the interim capital of the Southwest state, has seen sporadic flare-ups in recent years linked to land disputes, clan tensions and political rivalries. The violence frequently disrupts trade and services in a city that functions as a commercial hub for surrounding rural districts.

Thursday’s calm was described as tentative, with residents venturing out cautiously to reopen shops and resume daily routines. Traders near the livestock market — a vital artery for the local economy — reported scattered damage and lost business from the closures. Community elders urged restraint and called for swift dispute resolution mechanisms to prevent further escalation, though formal mediation efforts were not immediately announced.

Local officials said security forces had increased patrols around key intersections and markets and encouraged residents to report suspicious activity. Humanitarian groups did not issue public statements, but aid workers in Baidoa have previously warned that repeated disruptions to movement and markets can deepen hardship for vulnerable families reliant on daily earnings.

As the city assesses the damage and the wounded seek care, the immediate questions center on accountability and prevention: who fueled the confrontation beyond the initial land dispute, whether the armed groups will regroup, and how authorities intend to address the political sensitivities residents say were visible beneath the violence. For now, Southwest officials maintain the incident was criminal in nature and that order has been restored.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.