In a statement released Wednesday, the UN agency said the fighting was placing children at serious risk while further limiting their access to healthcare and other vital services.

The agency noted that the violence comes as many families in Baidoa are already dealing with displacement, shortages of food and severe levels of child malnutrition, leaving vulnerable communities at greater risk from the renewed insecurity.

UNICEF urged all parties involved in the conflict to take measures to protect children and prevent damage to schools and medical facilities. It also called for humanitarian organizations to be allowed safe and unrestricted access to people requiring assistance.

“Every child has the right to be safe, protected from violence, and able to access the services they need to survive and thrive,” UNICEF said.

The latest round of fighting erupted in Baidoa on September 28. The parties involved have provided differing accounts of how the confrontation began and the number of people killed.

Southwest State authorities claimed that more than 70 fighters were killed during the clashes, including what they described as foreign combatants.

Other accounts have cited different casualty figures, while local and medical sources reported deaths among civilians and security personnel, as well as dozens of injuries.

The violence has also disrupted medical services in the city, adding pressure to an already strained humanitarian environment.

The clashes are occurring against the backdrop of growing political and security tensions in Southwest State involving the Federal Government, the regional administration and forces loyal to former Southwest President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen.

The September 28 confrontation was reportedly the third major outbreak of violence in Baidoa within a period of six weeks, increasing concerns about civilian protection and the continued provision of essential services, particularly healthcare.

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This morning, people and vehicles can be seen moving slowly through the city, with some business establishments reopening.

However, activity in the city has not yet returned to its normal level, and some residents remain cautious regarding the security situation.

Yesterday’s fighting impacted parts of the city, particularly commercial areas.

Some businesses sustained severe damage after being struck by heavy artillery shells, while others were consumed by fire.

The locations affected by fires housed extensive merchandise and property, resulting in major financial losses for business owners.

Some merchants returned to their premises this morning to assess the damage inflicted upon them.

Vehicle traffic is also visible on the city’s streets, though it is not yet heavy.

While some individuals have begun venturing out to markets and service centers, others are still remaining inside their homes.

The situation in the city now appears to be gradually calming down as residents and business owners attempt to return to normal life.

The traces of yesterday’s battles are still visible in parts of Baidoa, and assessments of the losses resulting from the shelling, fires, and destruction of commercial properties remain ongoing.

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The fighting is taking place between forces aligned with opposing political factions in Southwest State, with both sides claiming the upper hand and issuing conflicting reports regarding the situation inside the town.

Preliminary reports indicate that the clashes have reached several key locations, with armed troops visible in various parts of the city. Heavy gunfire and artillery shells have been heard across Baidoa since this morning, leaving residents facing an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.

Reports from the city state that the fighting erupted from multiple directions, with forces utilizing various types of weaponry against each other. The areas reported to have been reached by the fighting include Boonkaay, Barwaaqo, Munawar, Maaya-fuulka, Al-Axmaar, Al-Faras, and Onodka.

The faction supporting Aden Madobe states that their forces have successfully defended their positions, whereas the Laftagareen faction claims to have breached some of the rival forces’ defenses. With Laftagareen’s troops reported to have entered the town, sources from the Laftagareen camp indicate that their forces have pushed deeper into Baidoa and taken control of parts of the city.

The Laftagareen faction also circulated photographs showing armed members walking through the town, claiming that they had reached vital locations.

The most critical news emerging this morning is that the Presidential Palace in Baidoa has been surrounded. It is reported that heavy artillery shells are striking the vicinity of the Presidential Palace, with the fighting drawing very close to the compound.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for Aden Madobe appeared and called upon the public to remain calm. The spokesperson stated that the troops who attacked the town had been neutralized, claiming that the attacking elements were individuals he accused of belonging to Al-Shabaab. This statement came at a time when gunfire and shelling were simultaneously being reported around the Presidential Palace.

Consequently, it is evident that the accounts coming from both sides diverge sharply, and it remains difficult to independently determine which faction holds control over all the contested areas. Reports from the city also state that forces supporting Laftagareen are utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). It is reported that these aircraft are targeting locations where government facilities are situated and the surrounding area of the Presidential Palace. Additionally, artillery and heavy weaponry are said to be deployed in the battle.

The clashes have also reportedly resulted in the burning of three armored vehicles. Reports indicate that these vehicles were destroyed during the fighting, though ownership and the exact location of their destruction have not yet been verified. The Aden Madobe faction maintains that Laftagareen’s forces were defeated and pushed back from some of those areas.

Residents living in neighborhoods where gunfire is taking place are reportedly trapped inside their homes, while others are attempting to flee away from the conflict zones.

Fighting occurring within the town could also impact health services, commerce, movement, and humanitarian aid operations.

So far, there is no official or independent casualty toll regarding the deaths and injuries resulting from this morning’s fighting. The clashes that have taken place in and around the town in recent times have demonstrated how political disputes have negatively impacted the security situation.

This new outbreak of fighting has now rendered the situation extremely critical, especially given that heavy weaponry is being deployed inside the city.

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Residents in villages around the city have reported growing anxiety as security conditions deteriorate and reports of overnight bombardments continue to emerge.

Images and videos circulating on social media show large craters and damaged structures in several villages on the outskirts of Baidoa, suggesting that heavy shelling struck the area during the night.

While the extent of casualties and damage remains unclear, local sources say civilians may have been affected. Conflicting reports have also emerged regarding who carried out the attacks and which locations were specifically targeted.

Meanwhile, sources on the ground say forces aligned with Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen have been assembling at a location approximately 20 kilometers from Baidoa.

The area, known locally as Seydheloow, is reportedly hosting a sizeable and well-equipped force, fueling speculation that preparations may be underway for a military operation linked to the city.

Some reports suggest the troop buildup could be connected to plans to advance toward Baidoa, where forces loyal to Speaker of Parliament Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur (Aadan Madoobe) and units of the Federal Government are currently deployed.

The developments come a day after several aircraft reportedly landed in Baidoa carrying additional federal security personnel, including members of the elite Haramcad police unit and other government forces.

The arrival of reinforcements has intensified concerns that rival factions may be preparing for a new phase of confrontation.

Residents living in villages along the routes of military activity and in areas reportedly struck by shelling say they fear being caught in any future fighting.

Many families have expressed concern that a direct clash on the outskirts of Baidoa could trigger a fresh wave of displacement, forcing civilians to flee their homes.

Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned that renewed conflict in the region could worsen conditions for communities already struggling with insecurity and economic hardship.

Baidoa remains a key political and administrative center of Southwest State and has recently been at the center of a deepening political dispute involving rival leaders and competing security forces.

Previous tensions between factions loyal to Laftagareen and Aadan Madoobe have contributed to a volatile security environment, with both sides accusing each other of destabilizing the region.

As of now, no official statement has been issued regarding the reported overnight shelling, and authorities have not confirmed whether the forces gathered at Seydheloow have launched or are preparing to launch an operation against Baidoa.

The situation remains fluid, with attention focused on troop movements and the actions of the various parties involved in the political and security standoff surrounding the city.

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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 post Bodies Recovered From Baidoa Streets After Clashes Between South West Forces and Government Forces appeared first on Kaab TV.

The post BREAKING: Heavy Fighting Erupts in Baidoa as Laftagareen Forces Seize Four Military Bases appeared first on Kaab TV.

Last week, heavy fighting broke out on the outskirts of Baidoa between forces loyal to Laftagareen and federal government troops that took control of the city in March.

The Federal Government of Somalia said two senior officers commanding units of the Turkish-trained Gorgor forces were among those killed in the clashes.

Sources close to Laftagareen’s forces said they carried out ground operations in villages surrounding Baidoa and warned local residents not to cooperate with troops stationed in the city, whom they described as “forces deployed from Mogadishu and occupying the area by force.”

The ongoing tensions in Baidoa stem from a long-running political dispute over the leadership of South West State, particularly delays in elections and disagreements between the Laftagareen administration and politicians backed by the federal government.

In March, Laftagareen’s administration withdrew from Baidoa and established its base in Nairobi.

The crisis intensified after reports emerged of plans to establish a new South West leadership, a move strongly opposed by Laftagareen supporters, who view it as an attempt to undermine the existing administration.

An election held in Baidoa, whose official results have yet to be announced, has fueled speculation that Villa Somalia intends to hand power to Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur Madobe, the Speaker of Somalia’s Parliament and an ally of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Forces loyal to Laftagareen operating outside Baidoa said they would continue their military operations, claiming they are resisting “an attempt to seize control of the city.”

Meanwhile, security concerns among residents are growing, with some families reportedly beginning to flee Baidoa for nearby villages to avoid further fighting.

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The fighting began at the Baidoa district office, which had been taken over by a clan militia led by a man named Moallin Addow, who claimed to be the district commissioner of Baidoa without being officially appointed.

Another militia opposed to Moallin Addow’s claim launched an attack on his group, resulting in a brief but intense battle.

An official from the attacking group, Sadiiq Doodishe, stated that they seized 13 firearms and captured at least seven fighters who belonged to Moalim Addow’s militia.

The city of Baidoa has been in a state of instability since Monday, when the administration of President Abdiaziz Laftagareen withdrew and flew to Nairobi, Kenya.

Federal government forces, accompanied by clan militias from the Buurhakaba area, have since taken control of Baidoa.

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia issued a decree appointing his deputy, Jibriil Abdirashiid Haji Abdi, as the Acting Leader of the South West State of Somalia.

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