Armed conflict erupted in Baidoa, Somalia’s largest city in South West State, as government forces engaged rebel fighters in intense combat. The violence began early Monday when opposition groups attacked federal military positions held in the city. According to the Defense Ministry, the attacking forces were supporters of the region’s former leader and utilized vehicle-mounted explosives during their assault. Government troops successfully repelled the offensive, resulting in approximately 30 casualties among the attacking forces.
The former state president’s faction disputed the military’s account, claiming through social media that their forces had seized control of the city center. Medical personnel working at facilities operated by Doctors Without Borders confirmed that wounded individuals from the fighting had arrived for treatment, with combat occurring across multiple locations throughout Baidoa.
This confrontation represents the most severe fighting since federal forces took control of Baidoa in March. Tensions have escalated since the national government implemented constitutional changes that extended the president’s term and restructured Somalia’s power-sharing framework, prompting the former regional leader to sever political ties with the capital and eventually resign. The ongoing instability continues to exacerbate humanitarian challenges in the nation, where widespread malnutrition and famine threaten millions of residents.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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