BAIDOA (Kaab TV) – Bodies were recovered from the streets of Baidoa on Saturday following heavy early morning clashes between security forces loyal to Laftagareen and armed opposition fighters linked to politicians opposing the administration of South West State, according to local residents and witnesses.
The fighting reportedly erupted after government forces attempted to disperse armed groups and opposition supporters gathered in parts of Baidoa amid escalating political tensions surrounding local administration and Somalia’s ongoing electoral disputes.
Witnesses said intense gunfire broke out shortly after dawn in several neighborhoods of the city, including areas near key roads and government facilities, causing panic among residents and forcing businesses to close temporarily.
Local residents reported seeing bodies lying on the streets following the clashes before they were later collected by relatives, local authorities, and emergency teams. Several other people were reportedly injured and taken to hospitals across Baidoa for treatment.
Although officials have not yet released an official casualty figure, local sources said both security personnel and armed opposition fighters were among those killed and wounded during the confrontation.
The clashes are believed to be linked to ongoing political disagreements between the South West State administration and opposition figures critical of President Laftagareen’s leadership and the broader federal political process in Somalia.
Political tensions in Baidoa have intensified in recent months amid disputes over elections, governance, security arrangements, and accusations by opposition groups that regional authorities are restricting political activities and suppressing dissent.
Opposition politicians and their supporters have repeatedly accused the South West administration of using security forces to intimidate rivals and limit political gatherings, allegations regional officials have denied.
The South West State administration has meanwhile defended its security operations, arguing that authorities are acting to maintain public order and prevent armed groups from destabilizing the city.
Baidoa remains one of Somalia’s most politically sensitive cities due to its strategic importance as the administrative capital of South West State and a major center for operations against Al-Shabaab in southern Somalia.
The city has witnessed repeated political crises and armed confrontations in recent years, particularly during disputes involving regional leadership, elections, and relations between federal and regional authorities.
Community elders and civil society groups have called for calm and urged both sides to avoid further violence that could worsen insecurity and endanger civilians in the city.
Authorities have not yet announced arrests or detailed the full circumstances surrounding the clashes, while additional security forces were reportedly deployed across parts of Baidoa following the violence.
Videos that later emerged and were shared on the Kaab TV Facebook page appeared to show residents and emergency responders carrying bodies of those killed and evacuating wounded individuals from the streets of Baidoa following the clashes.
The footage, which circulated widely on social media, captured chaotic scenes as civilians gathered around the victims while armed security forces remained deployed in several parts of the city.
The videos intensified public concern over the scale of the violence and highlighted the human toll of the fighting on local residents.