Somali Cabinet splits over deadly Baidoa clashes, exposing rifts with Southwest State
MOGADISHU, Somalia — A Somali Cabinet meeting on Thursday erupted into a rare public rift over deadly clashes in Baidoa, with ministers trading accusations over who is to blame for two days of violence and what it means for security and politics in the Southwest State.
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The dispute broke open as ministers debated the unrest that has gripped Baidoa over the past 48 hours. According to ministers in the room, the exchange laid bare a widening divide at the top of the federal government over how to manage relations with regional authorities and respond to fast-moving security crises.
Hassan Hussein Mohamed, the minister of Livestock and widely known as “Eelay,” accused the Southwest State administration of orchestrating an attack against federal government forces in Baidoa. He alleged that local authorities targeted his private residence and committed abuses against federal soldiers stationed in the area.
Those claims were challenged by Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Isaaq Mohamud Mursal and the state minister for Planning, both viewed as allies of Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed “Laftagareen.” They defended the security operations in Baidoa, saying forces were acting to prevent “armed groups” from setting up illegal checkpoints and destabilizing the city’s safety.
Ministers failed to reach a consensus, underscoring the fragility of federal cohesion at a time when Somalia is navigating overlapping political disputes and persistent security threats. No joint statement emerged from the meeting, and it was not immediately clear whether the Cabinet would revisit the matter or launch a formal inquiry.
The dramatic cabinet split highlights the delicate balance between Mogadishu and the federal member states, a relationship repeatedly tested by contested security mandates, local political alliances and the authority of regional security services. The competing narratives — one alleging a targeted assault on federal forces and the other describing a lawful operation to deter armed groups — reflect a broader struggle over who controls security on the ground in restive areas.
Political analysts say the public nature of the rift could further complicate efforts to de-escalate tensions between the federal government and regional administrations. They warn that competing centers of power, if left unmanaged, risk undermining coordination on security at a moment when public trust depends on unified, transparent decision-making.
Details from Baidoa remained limited on Thursday, with rival accounts hard to reconcile and no agreed casualty figures announced. What is clear from the ministers’ exchange is that the events of the past two days have intensified a long-simmering debate inside the federal government over rules of engagement, command authority and accountability when federal and regional forces operate in the same space.
It was not immediately known whether President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed “Laftagareen” would address the Cabinet’s dispute or whether Southwest State would issue additional statements on the clashes. The federal government also did not announce new measures following the meeting, leaving the immediate next steps uncertain.
What we know
- Cabinet ministers clashed Thursday over deadly clashes in Baidoa that unfolded over the past 48 hours.
- Livestock Minister Hassan Hussein Mohamed “Eelay” accused Southwest authorities of attacking federal forces and targeting his home.
- Deputy Foreign Minister Isaaq Mohamud Mursal and the state minister for Planning defended the operations as efforts to stop “armed groups” from creating illegal checkpoints.
- The Cabinet failed to reach a consensus or issue a unified statement, revealing deepening divisions inside the federal leadership.
- Analysts caution the public rift could complicate mediation between Mogadishu and regional administrations.
As Somalia contends with a volatile security environment and politically charged regional dynamics, the Baidoa clashes and the Cabinet’s split response underscore a central test for the federal government: maintaining unity of purpose while navigating competing claims of authority on the ground. For now, the absence of a common line adds uncertainty to an already charged situation — and raises the stakes for any future attempt to stabilize Baidoa and repair relations with the Southwest State leadership.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
