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Escalating political friction in Somalia reached an international dimension on Thursday as a South West State Minister calls on Kenya to arrest former president Laftagareen and facilitate his formal extradition through Interpol. Speaking to reporters following heavy fighting in Baidoa, South West State Security Minister Osman Isaaq Mohamed publicly urged authorities in Nairobi to detain the deposed regional leader, Abdiasis Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, who is currently residing in the Kenyan capital. Regional security officials accuse the former president of directing recent armed incursions, coordinate bombings, and destabilizing military operations inside the state’s administrative capital.
The formal request follows intense urban combat in Baidoa, where militia forces loyal to the exiled leader launched a major multi-pronged assault against federal and regional troops. During his press briefing, Minister Mohamed further alleged that the armed groups operating under Laftagareen’s direction maintain active operational links with Al-Shabaab insurgents. He warned that any captured fighters aligned with the former administration will face screening and legal processing similar to defectors from militant networks. However, independent observers and international human rights monitors note that these specific allegations against Laftagareen and his loyalist forces remain unverified by third-party investigators.
The political showdown traces back to early 2026, when federal forces seized control of Baidoa following a prolonged constitutional dispute over regional leadership mandates, leading to Laftagareen’s official resignation and exile to Kenya. Despite the installation of a new state administration backed by Mogadishu, political reconciliation has remained elusive, culminating in recurring localized violence and displacement across the Bay region. The recent resurgence of heavy weaponry inside densely populated residential areas has heightened humanitarian concerns among aid organizations operating in displaced persons camps surrounding the city.
Neither Kenyan diplomatic officials nor representatives for the former regional president have issued a formal public response to the Interpol extradition request. Legal experts emphasize that formal extradition between neighboring nations requires extensive judicial review, clear evidence-sharing protocols, and diplomatic agreements before international law enforcement action can proceed. As regional security forces work to secure Baidoa’s perimeter, the diplomatic appeal highlights the deepening challenges of managing cross-border political exile and restoring governance stability across southern Somalia.