Somalia Imposes Night Curfew and Weapons Ban in Baidoa After Political Tensions

BAIDOA, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government has introduced a nighttime curfew in Baidoa and barred civilians from carrying weapons in the city after dark, allowing only security personnel to do so, officials said.

The restrictions were announced amid heightened security concerns tied to recent political shifts in South West State, where tensions have escalated in the wake of changes in the regional administration.

Somali Police Commissioner Asad Osman Abdullahi, who has met with police officers in Baidoa over the past several days, instructed authorities to immediately step up security throughout the city.

Under the order, no weapons may be carried in Baidoa at night except by authorized security forces, including police and officers from the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). Officials also directed security teams to intensify nighttime patrols and tighten checks on vehicles and people entering the city. 

Police are responsible for maintaining internal security in Baidoa, while the Somali National Army is positioned on the outskirts to bolster defenses, according to officials.

Armed groups that have not yet been formally absorbed into the national security forces were told to stay in their bases during the integration process and not to bring weapons into the city.

The security measures come as federal authorities take direct control of Baidoa and press ahead with plans to organize one-person, one-vote elections, following weeks of political and security developments in South West State.

AXADLETM