Government Forces Clash With Militia Groups on Outskirts of Baidoa, Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Renewed fighting erupted early Thursday between government forces and militias on the outskirts of Somalia’s southwestern city of Baidoa, with reports of heavy gunfire and civilians fleeing their homes.

Somalia’s Defense Ministry stated that government forces responded to an attack by fighters loyal to former South West state President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen and the al-Shabab militant group, which has ties to al-Qaida.

These clashes represent the latest escalation in an ongoing political and security dispute between Somalia’s federal government and Laftagareen concerning control of South West state. Federal forces assumed control of Baidoa on March 30, prompting Laftagareen to resign. He had served as the state’s leader since 2018.

The fighting subsided in the early afternoon, though no official figures were released regarding casualties or the overall scale of the violence. Government troops were seen patrolling the streets, ambulances transported the wounded, and residents emerged to survey the damage and clear bloodied clothing from the pavement.

Dr. Abdikafi Omar Mohamud, who heads the emergency department at Bay Regional Hospital in Baidoa, informed The Associated Press that medical staff received 24 wounded individuals and one deceased civilian.

Abdullahi Haji, a resident of Baidoa, told AP over the phone that he evacuated his home as soon as he heard heavy gunfire and stray bullets striking residential areas.

Located approximately 245 kilometers (150 miles) northwest of Mogadishu, Baidoa serves as a major humanitarian hub and is currently home to more than half a million people displaced by ongoing conflict and drought conditions.

Last month, fighting in and around Baidoa resulted in at least four civilian deaths and 98 injuries.

Source link