Southwest State Accuses Federal Government of Escalating Military Confrontation

Monday March 23, 2026

Baidoa (AX) — A sharp new dispute between Somalia’s federal government and Southwest State is spilling into the security arena, with regional authorities warning that fresh troop deployments could ignite wider conflict and compound an already precarious humanitarian situation.

In a statement released Monday from Baidoa, Southwest State officials said the arrival of Somali National Army forces in the region amounts to a military escalation rooted in political disagreements—issues they argued should be handled through constitutional and legal mechanisms rather than the battlefield.

The statement alleged that national military resources are being redirected toward domestic political aims instead of counterterrorism operations against al-Shabab. It said units of the SNA—including forces trained and supported by international partners such as Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States—have been deployed in missions that are not centered on fighting Al Shabab.

“The situation has taken an even more alarming turn as the Somali National Army has, in practice, been reduced to a clan-based force,” the statement said. “Troops drawn largely from the president’s own clan are now being deployed against the people of Southwest State. This is widely viewed by local communities as a clan-driven attack, sharply escalating tensions and creating a real and immediate risk of civil war.”

Southwest authorities also questioned whether weapons they said were supplied by Egypt to bolster Somalia’s campaign against al-Shabab are being diverted into internal political disputes. They pointed to districts in Bakool and Lower Shabelle—Tiyeglow, Rabdhoore, Kurtunwaarey and Sablale—that remain under al-Shabab control, arguing that ongoing militant presence in those areas raises concerns about the focus of current military movements.

Hiiraan Online could not independently verify the allegation that the weapons referenced were part of Egyptian military assistance.

However, Egypt is among the countries that have supplied arms to Somalia in recent years to enhance the fight against al-Shabab, particularly after the United Nations lifted the decades-long arms embargo on the Somali government. Egyptian troops are also expected to deploy to Somalia under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

In its statement, Southwest State said it views the federal government’s actions as part of a broader plan to erode Somalia’s federal structure, including alleged moves to separate Lower Shabelle from Southwest State. It also cited oil and gas agreements signed with Türkiye, suggesting that competition over natural resources is adding to the strain.

The federal government has not publicly responded to the allegations.

The tensions come amid reports of recent clashes between Southwest State security forces and armed men linked to opposition groups in several parts of the region, with local officials alleging federal backing for those groups. Federal authorities, meanwhile, have sent troops to Burhakaba and Qansahdhere—deployments that regional officials said are intensifying fears of further confrontations.

In Baidoa, civilians are reportedly beginning to leave their homes amid anxiety that violence could return. The region has already endured prolonged drought, and officials warned that any new instability could drive additional displacement and worsen the humanitarian emergency.

Southwest State appealed to the international community to step in diplomatically to prevent the crisis from spiraling, and to ensure foreign security assistance is not used in ways that inflame internal conflict. Officials said inaction could jeopardize years of international investment in Somalia’s security and governance institutions.

Concern has also been raised by the civil society coalition Somalia Non-State Actors (SONSA), which said the standoff between Mogadishu and Baidoa has already produced clashes, civilian casualties and displacement.

SONSA called on political leaders to resume inclusive dialogue on major national priorities, including elections, drought response and security coordination.

The political rift has sharpened in recent days after Southwest State formally suspended relations with the federal government, accusing Mogadishu of meddling in its internal affairs. The dispute centers on regional elections and recently adopted constitutional amendments that extend the mandate of federal institutions from four to five years.

Southwest President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen has accused the federal government of obstructing regional elections since 2022. On Sunday, he appointed an Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, despite federal officials arguing that Southwest’s leadership mandates have lapsed.

With that move, Southwest State has joined Puntland State and Jubbaland in suspending cooperation with the federal government, citing what they describe as repeated interference.