Thursday, May 21, 2026 (Baidoa Online) -Commander of the Darawish forces in Qansax Dheere district, along with troops under his command, joined forces loyal to former South West President Abdiasis Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen on the outskirts of Baidoa.
The newly arrived fighters were officially received by the South West State Security Minister and senior officials aligned with lafta gareen in what observers view as a public show of military and political consolidation around President Laftagareen.
In recent days, several soldiers have reportedly left bases in Baidoa and joined what they describe as “Free South West Forces,” a group presenting itself as defending regional autonomy and opposing what they call “interference” or “invading forces” from Mogadishu. The fighters say their objective is to “liberate Baidoa” and protect the political independence of the South West administration.
The developments point to a widening security and political standoff in the region, raising fears of deeper fragmentation within Somali security structures. Analysts warn that continued troop defections and competing chains of command could destabilize Baidoa, a strategically important political hub in southern Somalia.
Residents in and around Baidoa have expressed concern over the increasing military activity on the outskirts of the city, amid fears that rival deployments could trigger armed confrontation if tensions continue to escalate.
The emergence of “Free South West Forces” also signals a shift in rhetoric from purely political disagreement toward organized armed alignment. If the trend of defections continues, it could significantly reshape the balance of power within South West State and complicate ongoing national security coordination efforts.
Political analysts note that the language used by the defecting forces — particularly references to “liberation” and “invading forces” — reflects increasingly hardened narratives that may deepen divisions between local communities, regional authorities, and the central government.
