🕒 Created · Updated

Somali army repels militia forces loyal to Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen in fierce fighting in Baidoa

The Somali army successfully drove opposition fighters out of Baidoa, the largest city in Somalia’s South West State, following hours of heavy fighting on Monday. The clashes erupted before dawn, as militias loyal to former South West state president Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen attacked federal positions. The Defence Ministry reported that federal forces killed approximately 30 attackers, who were reportedly accompanied by the al-Qaeda-linked group al-Shabab. The fighting, which began with explosions near a military base, left at least four civilians dead and 98 others wounded. Dr. Abdikafi Omar Mohamud, head of the emergencies department at Bay Regional Hospital, noted that the hospital faced significant pressure due to the influx of casualties and a shortage of medicines. The conflict stems from a political dispute over constitutional amendments and leadership in the South West State. After the federal government seized control of Baidoa in March, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen resigned. The ongoing instability contributes to a severe humanitarian crisis in the country, where millions face malnutrition and famine.

Sources