The leader of the South West administration, Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur (Adan Madobe), has reportedly requested military support from the Ethiopian government following a meeting in Baidoa with officers from the Ethiopian forces deployed in Somalia.
Media outlets including Addis Standard and others reported that the meeting focused on the security situation in Baidoa and the escalating tension between the administration led by Adan Madobe and forces loyal to former South West President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed (Laftagareen).
Reports indicate that Adan Madobe discussed with Ethiopian officers methods to reinforce Baidoa’s security perimeter and prevent potential offensives by pro-Laftagareen forces, who are reportedly conducting troop movements across sectors of the Bay region.
The meeting between Adan Madobe and Ethiopian military commanders coincides with acute political and security tensions in South West State between factions backing the current leadership and forces loyal to Laftagareen.
Ethiopia maintains troops in parts of Somalia, particularly within South West State, serving as part of broader regional security and counter-Al-Shabaab operations.
Concurrently, Adan Madobe chaired an extraordinary security council meeting to address the broader security conditions across South West State territories.
The conference focused on evaluating the security environment, strengthening force readiness, and accelerating initiatives to guarantee regional peace and stability.
During the session, emphasis was placed on the imperative of continuous security monitoring and enhancing coordination among law enforcement agencies and security stakeholders.
Adan Madobe urged security institutions to redouble operational efforts, stressing that protecting civilians and their property remains a top priority for the administration.
The session forms part of South West State’s broader strategy to reinforce regional security and mitigate ongoing stability challenges.
Baidoa serves as the administrative seat of South West State; the city and surrounding sectors have recently faced mounting political volatility and military movements stemming from the rivalry between Adan Madobe and Laftagareen.
Reports of the military assistance request to Ethiopia come as Adan Madobe’s administration attempts to fortify municipal defenses and boost the operational capability of local security services.
However, no official confirmation has been issued establishing whether the Ethiopian government accepted the military support request or will initiate new troop deployments.
Furthermore, specific details regarding any operational agreement resulting from the summit have not been disclosed.
The situational posture remains volatile, with regional observers closely monitoring Ethiopia’s strategic response and subsequent tactical steps taken by rival political and military factions vying for authority in South West State.