Thursday , May 28, 2026 (Baidoa Online) -New political and security tensions are emerging in the city of Baidoa after a group of soldiers reportedly defected from government positions and joined forces loyal to former Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen on the outskirts of the city.
According to local sources, the troops were welcomed at positions controlled by forces aligned with Laftagareen, who has recently declared that he still considers himself the legitimate President of Southwest State and intends to return to Baidoa with military backing.
Reports indicate that the soldiers who left Baidoa on Thursday were previously attached to the office of former Baidoa district commissioner Abdullahi Ali Watiin, a political ally and clan associate of Laftagareen.
Watiin was reportedly removed from Baidoa by the Federal Government of Somalia after federal security forces allegedly raided his residence in the city.
The latest developments come amid growing political uncertainty and military tensions within Southwest State, raising concerns over possible armed confrontations between rival factions in and around Baidoa.
