BAIDOA, Somalia — July 6, 2026 —Mortar rounds struck multiple areas in Baidoa on Monday during a high-profile visit by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, who were attending the inauguration of Southwest State leader Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur (Madobe), according to security and local sources. The president was not harmed but later left the city earlier than planned following the incident.
According to security sources and local residents in Baidoa, multiple mortar explosions were heard across the city during the afternoon and evening hours as senior federal officials gathered for the Southwest State leadership inauguration ceremony.
Witnesses reported that some of the explosions occurred near heavily secured government areas, including zones close to where President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was staying. However, there has been no official confirmation from federal authorities that the presidential compound itself was directly hit.
According to preliminary reports from local sources, the president and accompanying delegation, including Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, were swiftly relocated to secure positions following the explosions.
Officials have not yet publicly identified the perpetrators of the attack.
Casualties and Security Impact
According to local medical and community sources, at least one civilian was injured in the Horyaal neighborhood after one of the mortar rounds landed in a residential area.
Assessments of further casualties and property damage were still ongoing at the time of reporting, according to local security officials.
There has been no independent confirmation of the total number of projectiles fired or the extent of structural damage caused by the explosions.
Presidential Visit and Early Departure
According to sources familiar with the visit, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s schedule in Baidoa was significantly shortened following the security incident.
The president had initially been expected to remain in the city until the following day after attending the inauguration ceremony of Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur (Madobe) as leader of the Southwest State administration.
However, informed sources indicated that the president departed Baidoa for Mogadishu within hours of the incident due to security considerations.
Officials have not issued a detailed statement on whether the mortar attack directly influenced the timing of the departure, but security concerns were cited by multiple sources.
Federal and regional authorities have not yet released a detailed public statement on the mortar attacks.
Security officials in Baidoa confirmed that investigations are ongoing to determine the origin of the projectiles and identify those responsible.
Somali government forces, along with regional security units, reportedly increased patrols in parts of the city following the explosions.
There has been no immediate claim of responsibility from any armed group.
Baidoa, a strategic city in Somalia’s Southwest State, has previously experienced intermittent mortar attacks, particularly during periods of political transition or high-profile government visits.
The city hosted the inauguration ceremony of Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur (Madobe), a key political event attended by senior federal leaders, including President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre.
Somalia continues to face persistent security threats from militant groups operating in various regions of the country, including those capable of launching indirect fire attacks on urban centers.
Such incidents often occur during politically sensitive events, raising concerns about security preparedness for high-level government gatherings.
The mortar attack in Baidoa highlights ongoing security vulnerabilities in Somalia’s southern regions, particularly during major political events involving federal leadership. The presence of senior officials, including the president and prime minister, underscores the significance of the location and the potential risks associated with such gatherings.
While no fatalities have been confirmed, even limited attacks of this nature can have broader political and psychological impacts, raising concerns about the ability of security forces to fully secure major urban centers during sensitive occasions.
The incident may also place renewed focus on coordination between federal and regional security agencies, particularly in Southwest State, where political events often attract both national attention and security threats.