MOGADISHU, Somalia — September 29, 2026 — Somalia’s federal government has sent Gorgor troops and military supplies from Mogadishu to Baidoa, according to reports, in a move described as a reinforcement of security in the South West State capital amid renewed fighting and plans for a possible further operation.
Reports said 70 soldiers from the 5th Unit of the 17th Gorgor Battalion were flown to Baidoa aboard Flight 60-BES. Weapons and ammunition were also transported from Aden Adde International Airport, where three Kamaz trucks were reportedly brought into the Afisyoone section of the airport late Monday.
The military cargo reportedly included DShK machine guns, PKM machine guns and AK-47 rifles. The weapons and ammunition were said to have been loaded onto Flight 60-GAM at about 1:20 a.m. Tuesday before the aircraft departed for Baidoa.
Reports said the two aircraft were expected to make as many as four flights during the day, including three flights carrying military personnel and one carrying weapons and ammunition. The reported movements have not been publicly detailed by the federal government.
The deployment comes as federal and South West State authorities are reportedly considering a new operation against forces aligned with former regional president Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen. Those forces are reported to be positioned outside Baidoa, where federal and regional forces have recently clashed.
The discussions about a possible operation followed renewed fighting in the city. Earlier reports described deaths among fighters and civilians, but no consolidated casualty figure was available in the information provided for this report.
Reinforcements Follow Reports of Operation Planning
The reported troop and supply movements came after accounts that federal government and South West State leaders had discussed a broader military plan focused on Laftagareen-aligned forces near Baidoa. The reports said further meetings between federal officials and regional leaders were expected, with planning for a possible operation to take place over the next two weeks.
Additional federal officers were also reportedly sent to South West State to assess the situation and help prepare for the next steps. The reported activity points to an effort by authorities to strengthen their position in Baidoa while considering how to address forces outside the city.
The Gorgor deployment is described in reports as a measure to reinforce security in Baidoa. The city has remained at the centre of a political and security dispute between the federal government and Laftagareen’s supporters, with control of the regional administration and surrounding areas at stake.
The latest movement follows earlier federal deployments to Baidoa. Those reinforcements have not brought a clear or lasting improvement in the security situation, which has continued to face recurring clashes and political tensions. It remains uncertain whether the latest troops and supplies will change conditions on the ground.
The number of flights planned for Tuesday, and whether all of them would carry troops or military equipment, had not been independently confirmed. Reports said three flights were intended for military personnel and one for weapons and ammunition, but did not provide details about the full cargo or the units expected to arrive.
Baidoa Remains the Focus of the Standoff
Baidoa’s location and role as the South West State capital make it central to the dispute. The city is the main political and administrative centre in the region, and control of its institutions has been a key point of contention between authorities backed by Mogadishu and Laftagareen-aligned forces.
The reported plans for a new operation come at a time when both military deployments and political negotiations are shaping events in the region. Federal and regional leaders are reportedly considering their next steps, while additional officers are said to be assessing conditions in South West State.
The reported movement of troops and equipment may strengthen the federal-aligned presence in Baidoa, but the outcome remains unclear. Previous deployments have not resolved the underlying dispute or prevented further violence, and the latest reinforcements come amid reports of continuing preparations for a possible operation.
For residents, the latest developments raise concerns about renewed fighting in and around the city. The deployment of personnel and military supplies, alongside reported planning for an operation, could contribute to further instability if tensions escalate.
The deployment links the immediate security situation in Baidoa to the wider political dispute over South West State. Any new operation against forces outside the city could affect security in the regional capital and nearby areas.
The federal government’s reported reinforcement follows earlier deployments that have not produced a clear improvement in security. Whether the latest movement will alter the balance on the ground remains uncertain, while talks and preparations for a possible operation continue.