Southwest president accuses federal government of “invasion” amid escalating tensions
Speaking to newly trained Southwest troops, Laftagareen said the central government is moving special forces into Southwest regions and using aircraft to transport militias and additional troops, a claim he framed as a direct challenge to regional authority.
Sunday March 22, 2026
Baidoa (AX) — A sharp new escalation in Somalia’s federal-regional tensions unfolded in Baidoa on Saturday, when Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen accused the federal government of what he called a “blatant invasion” of territories under his administration.
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Speaking to newly trained Southwest troops, Laftagareen said the central government is moving special forces into Southwest regions and using aircraft to transport militias and additional troops, a claim he framed as a direct challenge to regional authority.
“In the last two days, there have been naked and shameless attacks, which are beyond humanity and beyond Somaliness,” he said.
He alleged that Villa Somalia is fueling divisions within Southwest communities and applying pressure on district administrations as well as officials aligned with his government.
“Somalia is not just Hamar,” Laftagareen said, casting the dispute as part of a broader struggle over how power and national resources are wielded, and arguing they are being deployed to impose political and security pressure on regional leaders.
He also claimed that arms and equipment obtained after the lifting of the U.N. arms embargo on Somalia have been redirected for use against forces and communities in Southwest State.
The federal government has not publicly responded to the latest accusations.
Reiterating a hardened stance, Laftagareen said Southwest State has cut off relations with Mogadishu, accusing federal leaders of meddling in regional political and security matters and weakening Somalia’s federal system.
Amid the rising rhetoric, the Southwest president used the military event to highlight preparations for a shifting security landscape. He praised African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) troops and officers involved in training the new Southwest units, saying the graduates are being readied to take on local security duties as foreign forces begin a gradual drawdown.
He also thanked Southwest ministers and lawmakers, saying they remain committed to defending the region and backing the newly trained forces.
The graduation comes as the confrontation between Baidoa and Mogadishu grows more entrenched, prompting concern among observers that the political dispute could deepen into direct security tensions.