Heavy fighting broke out early on Monday at several military bases belonging to Somalia’s federal government and the South West State administration in the city of Baidoa, in the Baay region.
Residents reported hearing several large explosions, followed by direct clashes between the opposing sides.
Unofficial reports said forces aligned with former South West State President Abdiasis Mohamed Hassan targeted a position occupied by troops from the Somali National Army’s 60th Division. The reports said an explosion occurred at a site believed to have been used to store weapons and military supplies.
Both sides have claimed gains in the fighting, although there has been no independent confirmation of the reported casualties or which side controls the locations where the clashes took place.
The fighting has also caused disruption and hardship for civilians in Baidoa, according to reports.
Baidoa has faced a deteriorating security situation in recent months, with residents experiencing repeated attacks and armed clashes following a disputed political and administrative change in the city.
Rival Sides Claim Victory
The South West State administration and the faction supporting former South West State President Abdiasis Laftagareen have both claimed success following the clashes at several military positions occupied by federal and South West State forces in Baidoa.
Mohamed Sheikh Abdullahi Xaayow, spokesperson for the South West State presidency, told the media that government forces had defended themselves against an attack by what he described as “terrorist groups”.
Mr Xaayow accused the militant group al-Shabab of carrying out the attack.
Meanwhile, Hassan Abdi Mohamed, who serves as information minister for the Laftagareen-aligned faction and previously served as Mr Laftagareen’s spokesperson, also claimed victory in the fighting.
He said forces aligned with their faction had destroyed military vehicles supplied to Somalia by Turkey, as well as several weapons depots belonging to forces opposed to them in Baidoa.
The competing accounts have not been independently verified, and the full extent of the fighting and casualties remains unclear.
