BAIDOA, Somalia — September 2, 2026 — Darawish forces loyal to Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed “Laftagareen” staged a show of force on the outskirts of Baidoa, according to an account accompanying footage of the gathering, as his faction urged continued military operations amid a dispute over who legitimately governs Southwest State.
Officials addressing the troops called on them to intensify what they described as a campaign to “re-liberate” the region. They urged continued operations against Somali federal troops and rival Southwest State forces while calling for the protection of civilians.
The accompanying video shows armed men in military uniforms seated outdoors with rifles and ammunition belts as a uniformed speaker addresses them. The gathering’s precise location, date and troop strength could not be independently established from the footage.
The supplied account did not include a response from federal authorities or the Baidoa administration, or details of subsequent military movements.
Competing claims to legitimacy
Laftagareen’s camp continues to present itself as Southwest State’s legitimate government, despite his publicly announced resignation on March 30 after federal troops entered Baidoa. Reuters reported that his resignation came days after his re-election for another five-year term.
Mogadishu had accused Laftagareen of remaining in office beyond his lawful mandate. His administration, meanwhile, opposed federal constitutional reforms and challenged the central government’s intervention in the region.
The competing administration is led by Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur Madobe, the former speaker of Somalia’s lower house of parliament. Regional lawmakers elected him on June 10, with electoral authorities reporting that he received 88 of 90 ballots cast.
That election was contested. Former regional president Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden withdrew and rejected the process, according to reporting by Dawan Africa and The Eastleigh Voice. Federal authorities nevertheless recognize Madobe’s leadership, with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud publicly welcoming his transition to the regional presidency.
The rival claims therefore rest on opposing accounts of the political transition: Madobe holds office following the June parliamentary vote, while Laftagareen’s faction rejects the successor administration and maintains its own claim to regional authority.
Previous fighting and civilian casualties
The latest display follows major fighting in Baidoa on August 17. Reuters reported that federal troops pushed Laftagareen-aligned fighters out of the city after hours of combat. The defence ministry said approximately 30 attackers were killed, a government figure that was not independently established.
Médecins Sans Frontières said Bay Regional Hospital received 71 wounded people, including women and children, that morning. Four deaths were recorded, including a young woman. Those figures described the hospital’s initial caseload rather than a final toll for the fighting.
Federal and Southwest officials subsequently accused Laftagareen-aligned fighters of operating alongside Al-Shabaab. His camp denied the allegations, describing its Darawish units as lawful regional security forces and the confrontation as a political dispute.
In an August 27 statement reported by Somalia Today, Laftagareen also urged the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia, AUSSOM, to remain neutral and independently verify allegations before supporting military action. The allegations of cooperation with Al-Shabaab remain disputed.
