At least 23 killed in factional fighting in Somalia's Baidoa
Heavy fighting erupted across Somalia's South West State on Monday after forces loyal to former regional president Abdiaziz Laftagareen launched an assault on troops aligned with federal president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and regional leader Aden Madobe. The attack, which involved gunfire, explosive drones and a suicide vehicle bomb, spread through the regional capital Baidoa, killing at least 23 people and wounding dozens more.
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At least 23 people were killed and dozens more wounded in heavy fighting that erupted across Somalia's South West State on Monday. Forces loyal to former regional president Abdiaziz Laftagareen launched an assault on troops aligned with federal president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and South West State leader Aden Madobe. The attack involved gunfire, explosive drones and a suicide vehicle bomb, spreading through the regional capital Baidoa.
Both sides claimed gains in the clashes, though there was no independent confirmation of casualty figures or which forces controlled the contested military positions. A spokesperson for the South West State presidency accused al-Shabab of carrying out the attack, while officials aligned with Mr Laftagareen disputed that characterisation and blamed federal and state forces directly.
The violence represents the latest escalation in a dispute that has destabilised Baidoa for months following a contested political and administrative change in the city. Residents have faced repeated armed clashes and ongoing disruption to daily life as rival factions vie for control of this strategically important regional capital.
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