BAIDOA, Somalia — September 3, 2026 — Heavy fighting spread across several Baidoa neighbourhoods on Thursday, with civilians reportedly fleeing gunfire and explosions as Darawish forces loyal to Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed “Laftagareen” battled federal troops supporting Sheikh Aden Madobe’s administration.
Reports carried by Baidoa Online identified Alfaras, Suuqa Xoolaha, Boonkaay, Al-Axmaar, Darasalam and Tawfiq as among the areas most affected. The clashes began early in the morning and moved into the city, with rival forces contesting neighbourhoods and military positions.
Laftagareen-aligned fighters reportedly took control of neighbourhoods between Cunaay and Ceel Cabdi Shiraay. That advance could not be independently verified, and the boundaries of any territory held by either side remained unclear.
Fighting Over Military Positions
Preliminary accounts indicated that Laftagareen loyalists entered at least one military camp previously occupied by federal government troops. Both sides were reported to be claiming battlefield gains, without independently verified evidence establishing control of the disputed positions.
One federal military commander was reportedly wounded during the fighting. The latest accounts did not establish the circumstances of the injury or provide a verified update on the officer’s condition.
Reports from Baidoa also suggested that casualties were increasing. No reliable figures were available for those killed or wounded, and there was no confirmed breakdown between civilians and combatants.
The reported advances follow earlier military preparations around the city. Baidoa Online had reported movements by Laftagareen-aligned forces on the outskirts and defensive trench digging by federal troops inside Baidoa.
Civilians Flee as Homes Catch Fire
Heavy gunfire and explosions were reported in Suuqa Xoolaha, where intense fighting was said to be forcing civilians to leave. The number of people displaced and their destinations were not immediately known.
Earlier reports indicated that several civilian homes caught fire after being struck by rocket-propelled grenades. Those accounts could not be independently verified, and responsibility for the reported strikes remained unclear.
Electricity service in Baidoa was also cut. The supplier described the shutdown as a precaution to reduce the risk of electric shocks, although no restoration timetable was available.
The combination of fighting inside neighbourhoods, reported house fires and the power interruption has added to concerns about civilian safety. The available accounts do not establish the extent of damage to homes, businesses or essential services.
Claims About Aircraft Remain Unverified
Separate reports alleged that military aircraft, including Turkish aircraft, departed Mogadishu to participate in the fighting in Baidoa. The aircraft’s identity, destination and operational role could not be independently confirmed.
Airstrikes had also been reported on Baidoa’s outskirts. It remained unclear who conducted those reported strikes, what was targeted or whether anyone was killed or injured.
Officials aligned with Laftagareen have previously accused Turkey of supporting Madobe and conducting strikes against civilians. Those allegations remain unverified and do not establish Turkish responsibility for the latest reported aerial activity.
Rival Administrations Contest South West State
The fighting forms part of a struggle between two rival administrations claiming political legitimacy in South West State.
Madobe leads the administration based in Baidoa with federal government support. Laftagareen heads the competing administration, whose loyalists had been positioned mainly outside the regional capital before the latest offensive.
Ugaas Hassan, a spokesman for Laftagareen-aligned Darawish forces, earlier announced an operation to take Baidoa. He urged residents to stay indoors, called on federal soldiers to surrender and instructed his fighters to avoid harming civilians.
The movement of fighting into populated neighbourhoods increases civilians’ exposure to gunfire and explosions. Reports of people fleeing and homes burning indicate immediate protection concerns, although the full humanitarian impact remains unknown.
Control of Baidoa is central to the confrontation between the rival administrations. Reported gains in individual neighbourhoods or military camps would not, by themselves, establish control of the city or settle the competing claims to govern South West State.