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Heavy gunfire and artillery exchanges erupted early Monday as federal troops, Laftagareen-aligned opposition forces clash in Baidoa town, marking a sharp military escalation in the administrative capital of Southwest State. Reports indicate that armed fighters loyal to former regional president Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen entered parts of the city from multiple directions, directly challenging positions held by the Somali National Army and regional security forces. Local residents described heavy automatic weapons fire and repeated explosions echoing across central neighborhoods, forcing civilians to take shelter indoors as the military standoff unfolded.
The sudden outbreak of hostilities highlights the deepening political deadlock surrounding the leadership and governance of Southwest State. Tensions have remained acute since March, when federal authorities asserted control over Baidoa following a contested electoral process and the subsequent removal of Laftagareen. While a spokesman for the opposition forces claimed that their fighters had entered key sectors of the town to re-establish regional authority, military commanders with the national army offered a contrasting narrative, stating that government forces successfully repelled the incoming assault and maintained firm control over strategic installations.
Casualty figures among combatants and non-combatants remain unconfirmed as emergency responders work amidst volatile security conditions. Witnesses in the city reported that several civilians sustained injuries from stray bullets during the initial exchanges. Humanitarian agencies operating in Baidoa have raised urgent concerns regarding the potential impact of sustained urban fighting on the region’s massive displaced population, which relies heavily on uninterrupted humanitarian distribution networks and access to local medical facilities.
Federal security officials have called on residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with national forces while active clearance operations continue across affected quarters. Analysts emphasize that unless diplomatic reconciliation mechanisms are swiftly engaged between federal leadership and regional political factions, recurring military confrontations risk destabilizing central Somalia and undermining broader national security goals. For now, local authorities maintain high security alerts as the situation in Baidoa remains tense and fluid.