Heavy fighting erupted across parts of Baidoa on Monday, August 17, between forces aligned with the Federal Government of Somalia and troops loyal to former South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen.
The fighting was among the most serious clashes reported in Baidoa since March, when Federal Government forces took control of the city amid escalating political tensions between Mogadishu and the South West administration.
Reports from Baidoa this morning indicate that the situation is calmer than it was on Monday, with Federal Government forces claiming that they pushed back the troops who launched the attack.
The fighting began early Monday morning, August 17, with heavy gunfire and explosions reported in several parts of the city.
Residents said they heard explosions and heavy gunfire as people were preparing for the dawn prayer.
Reports also indicated that several homes and other buildings were damaged during the fighting, although the full extent of the destruction has yet to be independently established.
The latest clashes are linked to a long-running political dispute between the Federal Government and the leadership of South West State.
The dispute has involved disagreements over power-sharing, elections, constitutional changes and the relationship between the Federal Government and the country’s federal member states.
Tensions escalated sharply in March 2026 when Federal Government forces entered and took control of Baidoa.
Laftagareen later left office, but his departure did not resolve the wider political dispute or the tensions surrounding control of the city.
Baidoa has endured years of conflict, drought, displacement and humanitarian hardship, leaving large numbers of civilians particularly vulnerable to renewed violence.
The latest fighting is therefore a serious warning of the consequences when political disagreements are allowed to escalate into armed confrontation.
Continued clashes could further disrupt civilian life, humanitarian operations, transport and essential services in a city already facing significant challenges.
For Baidoa’s residents, the immediate priority remains the restoration of calm and the prevention of further fighting, while the broader political disagreements between Mogadishu and South West actors will require a negotiated solution rather than another military confrontation.