Ousted regional leader’s loyalists and army clash in Somali city

Ousted regional leader’s loyalists and army clash in Somali city

Fighters loyal to an ousted state leader in southern Somalia clashed with troops on Saturday in the city of Baidoa, resulting in several casualties, witnesses and security sources said. The fighting, in the main city of Somalia's South West State, followed the army's ouster in March of the state's president, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen. "Armed elements entered the city with the intention of creating instability and disorder" but were rep…

Somalia: Laftagaren forces briefly seize Baidoa after gunfight with army

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Somalia: Deadly Clashes Erupt in Baidoa as Loyalists of Ousted Leader Battle Troops

Baidoa, Somalia — Fighters loyal to an ousted regional leader clashed with security forces in the southern Somali city of Baidoa on Saturday, leaving several people dead and raising fresh concerns over political tensions in the country's South West State.

Baydhabo Returns to Calm After Fierce Clashes as South West Political Tensions Escalate

Baidoa (WDN) – The city of Baidoa has returned to relative calm after fierce fighting erupted early Friday morning between forces loyal to former South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen and troops of the Federal Government of Somalia stationed in the regional capital. The confrontation, which lasted for more than an hour, unfolded across several parts of the city, with heavy gunfire and military movements reported in multi…

Arrest of a local journalist in Baidoa signals growing threats to media freedom in South West State amid armed conflict and humanitarian crisis

MOGADISHU/BAIDOA, Somalia 30 May 2026 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) calls on the authorities in South West State to respect press freedom and end the intimidation and arbitrary arrests of journalists with the latest case being the unlawful arrest of local journalist Abdirahman Hassan Mohamed in Baidoa on Tuesday 26 May, at a time when the region is grappling with armed conflict, political tensions, and a worsening humanitarian crisis.…

Puntland has expressed concern about the current political situation in South West and Galmudug.

Puntland has expressed deep concern over the worsening political and security situation in the regional states of Southwest and Galmudug, accusing the Federal government of interfering in the internal affairs of these regional governments. Puntland’s Vice President, Mr. Ilyas Lugator, has expressed his concern over the deteriorating situation in Baidoa, where fierce clashes have erupted between troops. He described the clashes as being between m…