BAIDOA , Somalia — September 3, 2026 — Darawish forces loyal to Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen say they have launched an offensive on Baidoa, where renewed fighting has been reported against federal troops backing Sheikh Aden Madobe’s administration, bringing the struggle between South West State’s rival leaderships into the regional capital.
Ugaas Hassan, spokesman for the Laftagareen-aligned forces, announced the offensive and called on federal government soldiers to surrender. He urged residents to remain indoors until the operation had ended.
Hassan described the objective as an effort to “liberate” Baidoa. That description represents his side’s position in a conflict between two administrations that each claim political legitimacy.
Spokesman Issues Instructions to Fighters
In his statement, Hassan instructed his fighters to behave professionally when entering Baidoa and to avoid harming civilians.
His appeal addressed residents, advancing fighters and the federal troops opposing them. He asked civilians to stay inside, directed his forces to exercise restraint and urged government soldiers to give themselves up.
Fighting Reported in Several Areas
The announcement comes amid reports of renewed heavy clashes in several parts of Baidoa, including the Al-Axmaar and Alfaras areas.
The available reports do not establish the scale of the fighting in each location, the positions of the opposing forces or whether either side has captured government facilities.
There is no confirmed information on deaths, injuries or changes in territorial control. The extent of any damage to homes, businesses or public infrastructure also remains unclear.
No response from federal government forces or Aden Madobe’s administration was included in the material available for this report. Their account of the offensive and the situation inside Baidoa remains unavailable.
Rival Claims to South West Leadership
South West State is contested by two rival administrations. The administration led by Sheikh Aden Madobe is based in Baidoa and supported by federal government forces.
Laftagareen leads the competing administration, whose loyalists have been positioned mainly outside the regional capital. Both camps claim the authority to govern the state.
The latest offensive claim follows earlier reports of fighting between the opposing forces in Baidoa. The available information does not establish when the latest clashes began or whether they followed a pause in the earlier confrontation.
Hassan’s statement presents the attack as an attempt to take the city from the opposing administration.
The reported fighting places the dispute over South West State’s leadership directly in Baidoa, the seat of the federal-backed administration. Control of the city is central to the immediate confrontation, although a battlefield outcome would not by itself resolve the competing claims to political legitimacy.