Heavy fighting erupts near Baidoa between federal forces, Laftagareen loyalists
The confrontation took place near Baidoa, the interim capital of Southwest State. No independent casualty count has been verified, though social media videos appeared to show wounded soldiers.
Saturday May 30, 2026
Baidoa (AX) — Intense fighting erupted early Saturday on the outskirts of Baidoa, where federal government troops clashed with fighters aligned with former Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, officials said.
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The confrontation took place near Baidoa, the interim capital of Southwest State. No independent casualty count has been verified, though social media videos appeared to show wounded soldiers.
Bay regional police commander Sadiiq Duushisho told local media that the battle left people dead and injured, but he did not give a toll.
“This morning, their bodies and injuries are everywhere, and we are still recovering them,” Duushisho said.
He did not indicate whether federal forces also suffered losses.
In a Facebook post, the Haramac Special Police Force said it seized a military vehicle during the clash and added that Baidoa had returned to calm after the fighting.
The Somali National Army command said government troops repelled the assault and dealt heavy losses to the opposing side in both personnel and equipment. It said official casualty figures would be announced after verification.
Ugaas Hassan, a spokesman for Laftagareen’s Southwest regional administration, wrote in a short Facebook post that Southwest Dervish forces had taken control of Baidoa. Hiiraan Online was unable to independently confirm the claim.
The latest fighting highlights the persistent instability in Southwest State, where federal forces and allied troops entered Baidoa on March 30, 2026, and took over much of the city after ousting Laftagareen’s administration.
Since then, forces loyal to the former regional president have continued to contest the federal-backed leadership, fueling fears that the political standoff could spiral into broader armed conflict.
Baidoa remains a major political and military center in southern Somalia, where disputes over regional leadership, federal authority and elections have intensified in recent months.
