BAIDOA , Somalia — August 17, 2026 — Former South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed “Laftagareen” praised forces loyal to his administration on Monday following deadly fighting with Somali federal troops in Baidoa, claiming their operation sought to restore security and stability in the regional capital.

In a statement issued by his office, Laftagareen commended the South West Darwish forces for an operation carried out in Baidoa earlier Monday. His office said the objective was to restore public order, protect civilians and end what it described as an unlawful military presence in the city.

The statement claimed the Darwish forces cleared troops that had entered parts of South West State without legal authority and posed a threat to public security. It did not provide evidence supporting that allegation.

Laftagareen’s office rejected descriptions of his fighters as an armed group, calling such reports “false propaganda” intended to justify federal action against his administration.

The statement also accused Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, whom it described as having exceeded his constitutional mandate, of unlawfully using Somali National Army personnel and equipment against South West forces.

The federal government has not issued a detailed response to the allegations contained in Laftagareen’s statement. However, Somalia’s Defence Ministry said federal troops had repelled an attack on Baidoa and driven the opposing forces from the city.

Both sides have issued competing accounts of the operation and its outcome. Their battlefield claims could not be independently verified.

Fighting and Casualties

Heavy fighting erupted before dawn on Monday when forces loyal to Laftagareen entered Baidoa from several directions and confronted federal troops supporting the administration led by Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur “Madobe.”

Residents reported sustained gunfire, powerful explosions and the use of heavy weapons in several neighborhoods. Videos circulated on social media showed armed personnel moving through city streets and civilians carrying injured people away from affected areas.

Somalia’s Defence Ministry accused Laftagareen-aligned fighters of launching the assault with vehicles carrying explosives. The ministry said federal forces regained control of Baidoa and claimed that approximately 30 opposition fighters were killed. That figure has not been independently confirmed.

Residents and medical sources reported deaths and injuries among combatants and civilians. A local elder told Reuters that he had seen 10 bodies, including four civilians and six fighters from the opposing forces.

Other locally reported casualty figures were significantly higher, but authorities and medical facilities had not released a consolidated, independently verified toll by Monday evening.

Laftagareen Praises Baidoa Residents

Laftagareen’s statement congratulated Baidoa residents for what his office described as a warm reception given to the South West Darwish forces.

His office said residents supported the operation and stood behind what the statement called the “liberation” of Baidoa. There was no independent evidence showing the extent of public support for either side.

Photographs taken in central Baidoa on Monday night showed normally busy streets almost entirely deserted. Businesses were closed, while little or no pedestrian movement was visible as residents remained indoors amid fears that fighting could resume.

The statement reaffirmed Laftagareen’s commitment to protecting civilians, defending South West State institutions and preserving the region’s constitutional administration.

The confrontation is rooted in a political dispute over the leadership and constitutional status of South West State.

Laftagareen and his supporters maintain that his administration remains the legitimate regional authority. The federal government supports a rival administration led by Aden Madobe following a disputed political transition.

Tensions escalated in recent months as forces loyal to the rival administrations established separate military positions in and around Baidoa. Laftagareen-aligned troops had been mobilizing outside the city before Monday’s assault, while the federal government reinforced troops protecting the regional capital.

Baidoa has experienced several confrontations linked to regional elections, federal intervention and disputes over the distribution of political power. Fighting was also reported in the city earlier in 2026 as the disagreement increasingly shifted from political competition to armed confrontation.

The city is one of Somalia’s principal humanitarian centers and hosts hundreds of thousands of people displaced by drought, conflict and Al-Shabaab violence. Any prolonged disruption of transport, markets and humanitarian operations could place additional pressure on vulnerable families.


Federal forces were reported to be controlling central Baidoa by Monday evening, although the positions and remaining strength of Laftagareen-aligned forces were unclear.

No ceasefire or formal negotiation process had been announced. Continued military mobilization by either side could trigger another confrontation, particularly if political efforts fail to resolve the dispute over South West State’s leadership.

Local community leaders and political figures are expected to face growing pressure to seek negotiations and prevent further fighting inside the densely populated city.

The fighting represents a dangerous escalation of a political dispute into direct urban warfare. Repeated confrontations between federal and regional forces could weaken Somalia’s security institutions and deepen divisions between Mogadishu and federal member states.

The conflict also risks diverting soldiers, weapons and government resources from operations against Al-Shabaab, which remains active across parts of Bay, Bakool and neighboring regions. Divided security forces could create opportunities for the militant group to expand its activities.