Forces Loyal to Ousted Southwest Leader Storm Baidoa as Heavy Fighting Erupts Ahead of Elections

BAIDOA, Somalia – Forces loyal to ousted Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen entered the regional capital of Baidoa on Friday following a morning assault, sparking heavy fighting within the city just days before crucial regional elections, residents reported.

Witnesses described intense exchanges of gunfire and the deployment of heavy weapons in multiple areas of Baidoa, the administrative hub of Somalia’s Southwest State. A military commander reported that government forces counted approximately six bodies of the attackers, while local residents said they saw the bodies of four combatants and two civilians who were struck by stray bullets.

The confrontations occur at a pivotal time for the region, as preparations are underway for elections to select the Speaker of Parliament and the President of Southwest State later this week.

Loyalist Forces Enter Baidoa

Residents indicated that armed supporters of Laftagareen advanced into the city early in the day, resulting in clashes with forces backing the current regional administration. Baidoa police chief Sadiq Dudishe accused the fighters of attempting to destabilize the city, stating that armed elements entered the city with the intention of creating instability and disorder but were repelled by security forces.

The territorial control held by either side remained unclear, though witnesses reported that fighters loyal to Laftagareen briefly seized control of certain districts of the city before withdrawing under pressure from government forces.

Political Tensions Since March

Political tensions in Southwest State have persisted since March 30, when Laftagareen was removed from office following weeks of escalating conflicts and a security operation in Baidoa supported by the federal government. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre officially issued a decree appointing an interim leader for the Southwest State administration following the dramatic removal of Laftagareen, which occurred after days of escalating political tension and intense military clashes between rival forces in and around Baidoa.

His dismissal exacerbated regional divisions, with supporters labeling the action as unlawful while contending it was essential for resolving an extended political deadlock. Laftagareen has forcefully renewed his claim to office, declaring that he remains the lawful regional leader following his March 28 re-election, which he says complied fully with both federal and regional constitutional frameworks. Just two days after his re-election, heavily armed federal forces entered Baidoa, prompting Laftagareen to resign and depart for Nairobi, Kenya.

Opposition Backs Southwest State

A coalition of Somali regional states and prominent political leaders has officially thrown its support behind Southwest State President Abdiaziz Laftagareen, further isolating the federal government amid a rapidly deepening constitutional crisis. The Somali Future Council, a powerful political alliance comprising the regional governments of Jubbaland and Puntland alongside the Salvation Forum, issued a formal public statement directly endorsing Laftagareen’s challenge to the central government’s authority.

The council explicitly accused President Mohamud’s administration of employing the Somali National Army for narrow political objectives, warning that such tactics critically endanger years of hard-won progress in rebuilding Somalia’s security institutions and risk reigniting widespread internal conflict.

Federal Government Declares Mandate Expired

The Somali federal government significantly intensified the growing political conflict with the Southwest State leadership by officially announcing that the regional administration’s term had concluded and initiating measures for a formal transition. According to an official public statement, the Federal Ministry of Interior declared that Laftagareen no longer possesses legitimate executive authority.

This decisive action represented a severe breakdown in the fragile connections between the central government and regional administrations. Federal officials maintained that this step was essential for upholding strict constitutional schedules, while advocates of the Southwest leadership indicated that any central government involvement in regional terms would be considered an illegal overreach.

Leadership Succession Race Intensifies

The federal intervention has sparked a fierce competition for leadership within President Mohamud’s closest associates. Candidates vying for the regional presidency include federal parliamentary speaker Adan Mohamed Nur, Ports Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, and Livestock Minister Hassan Elay. Observers suggest the outcome will likely depend on the president’s personal backing as he works to strengthen federal authority over this semi-autonomous territory.

Forces loyal to Laftagareen, along with dozens of technical vehicles, have withdrawn from their position in Awdinle town in Bay region and reportedly relocated to Dolow, a town along the Somalia-Ethiopia border in the neighboring Gedo region. Hundreds of fighters aligned with the former regional president have entered parts of Gedo, according to witnesses and officials.

Elections and Transition

The recent violence has heightened concerns about the security situation before the scheduled elections, which are considered vital for determining the leadership of this strategically significant federal member state. The federal government is preparing to hold elections in Baidoa in the coming weeks. The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has officially announced a delay in the submission deadline for candidate applications for the South West State electoral process, while also confirming the polling date for the upcoming regional elections.

Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has declared that there will be no elections in Baidoa or across South West other than a one-person, one-vote process. “We will not allow, in any way, disorder, revenge, clan-based discrimination or any trouble in Baidoa,” Prime Minister Hamza has stated.

Southwest State, one of Somalia’s federal member states, has a history of political conflicts and security issues, with Baidoa functioning as an important political and administrative center in the southwestern part of the country. As both federal and opposition forces posture for the next phase of the political standoff, residents of Baidoa and the wider South West region remain caught in the middle of a power struggle that has already displaced thousands and disrupted essential services.