In South West State, communities are facing what residents describe as a double crisis of conflict and food insecurity.

Humanitarian concerns have intensified as fighting continues across the region between forces aligned with the Federal Government of Somalia and the local Rahanweyne forces of the Southwest State, which remains loyal to former South West President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed “Laftagareen”.

The conflict has triggered a new wave of displacement in and around Baidoa, a city already struggling with drought, hunger and overcrowded displacement camps.

Among those displaced is Ibrahim Abdi Aliyow, who fled his rural village in Bay region with his wife and five children a year ago after drought destroyed their livelihoods.

Having settled in a displacement camp on the outskirts of Baidoa, he has now been forced to flee once again because of the fighting.

“It is tough. Gunfire hit our makeshift house the other night and we fled,” he said, describing clashes that erupted in parts of Baidoa on Sunday and Monday this week.

According to the latest assessment by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), nearly one in three Somalis is experiencing critical food insecurity.

The IPC defines famine as a situation in which at least one in five households faces an extreme lack of food, leading to starvation, acute malnutrition and increased mortality.

“The humanitarian context in Somalia is worsening faster than we originally projected and expected,” said George Conway, the United Nations’ top humanitarian official in Somalia, speaking last month about the country’s deteriorating conditions.

Aid agencies have identified Buurhakaba district as one of the areas of greatest concern.

The United Nations has warned of a real and credible risk of famine in the district if assistance does not increase urgently.

“The assistance is needed most urgently in South West State, where we have confirmed a real and credible risk of famine in Buurhakaba district,” Conway said.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has also raised concerns over growing shortages of medical supplies used to treat children suffering from acute malnutrition.

UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires said healthcare services are becoming increasingly strained due to supply chain disruptions linked to instability in the Middle East.

Although Somalia has endured recurring drought since 2024, the current Gu rainy season has brought only limited relief to some areas.

Humanitarian agencies warn that rainfall remains insufficient to reverse the crisis and that many communities continue to depend on emergency water deliveries.

“Given the drought situation and the drying up of water points, a lot of communities are reliant on water trucking,” Conway said. “In some locations, we’ve seen water prices for water trucking triple over the course of the past month.”

Access to vulnerable communities has also become more difficult.

The main road connecting Mogadishu and Baidoa remains highly insecure, with large sections under the influence of Al-Shabaab militants.

Journalists and residents have reported a rise in militant attacks along the route, further complicating the delivery of humanitarian aid.

For many displaced families, assistance has yet to arrive.

Habiba Nurow, 56, and her six children arrived at a displacement camp near Baidoa several months ago after losing her livestock and livelihood. She says conditions continue to deteriorate.

“No aid has come. The children are too weak to stand and the food has run out,” she said.

“We hope and we pray that someone will hear our cries and that aid will reach us.”

As conflict, drought and food shortages converge across South West State, humanitarian agencies warn that without immediate assistance, thousands of vulnerable families could face even greater suffering in the months ahead.

The post Conflict and Hunger Deepen Humanitarian Crisis in Somalia’s South West State appeared first on Kaab TV.

Earlier today, all passenger flights from Mogadishu to Baidoa were suspended.

Reports indicate that the FGS attempted to prevent President Laftagareen’s return to Baidoa.

The president had spent the past week in Saudi Arabia performing Umrah. However, sources in Baidoa told Kaab TV that he entered through a border town along the Somalia–Ethiopia border.

Even in Baidoa, his return was not pre-announced.

Southwest State is currently experiencing heightened political and security tensions, largely driven by an upcoming election expected to take place in the region.

The Federal Government has not yet officially commented on the tensions. However, sources in Mogadishu say the government opposes President Laftagareen holding a unilateral election in Southwest State.

In recent months, a deepening rift has emerged between the federal government in Mogadishu and the Southwest State administration based in Baidoa.

The dispute centers on plans for contested elections, with Southwest State seeking to organize its own independent vote.

Southwest State now becomes the third federal member state to sever ties with the Federal Government of Somalia.

The Federal Government of Somalia has yet to comment on the new developments in Baydhabo.

Previously, Puntland and Jubaland also cut relations with Mogadishu over disputes related to constitutional amendments and controversial elections, which they accused the federal government of using to extend its term.

Deadly violence erupted in Baidoa in early February this year after militia groups—reportedly backed by politicians linked to the federal government—clashed with Southwest State security forces.

The tensions have also led to the takeover of the towns of Buurhakaba and Qansax Dheere by militia groups opposed to the Southwest State administration.

The post Laftagareen Arrives in Baidoa Despite Air Blockade as Tensions Escalate appeared first on Kaab TV.

The new unit, named the South West Special Police Force, is reportedly being trained in security operations, countering Al-Shabaab, and protecting key government facilities.

The training is taking place at a camp on the outskirts of Baydhabo in the South West State, as well as in locations in Ethiopia.

On Saturday, President Abdiasis Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, who visited the new force today, announced that they will operate across all areas of the South West State.

“You will defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the flag of the South West State,” Laftagareen said.

He noted that Al-Shabaab continues to cause significant problems in the region and emphasized that the force is needed to clear them out.

The president also praised Ethiopia, calling them “brothers” for providing training to the new unit.

Officials from the South West State said that this new force will be part of broader efforts to strengthen security in the region, particularly in the Baay, Bakool, and Lower Shabelle areas, where Al-Shabaab attacks continue to occur.

Ethiopia has long provided military support and training to both Somalia’s federal government and its regional administrations, and is among the countries whose troops operate in Somalia.

This development comes amid ongoing security changes and military movements in parts of southern Somalia.

Meanwhile, Egypt — which has tense relations with Ethiopia — recently announced that it will send troops and weapons to Somalia.

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