Heavy fighting broke out in Baidoa, the capital of Bay region in Somalia's South West State, on Monday, September 28, 2026. The clashes began early in the morning and spread across several parts of the city, with residents reporting explosions and sustained gunfire. The fighting involved forces loyal to former regional President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen and federal troops supporting the administration of President Adan Mohamed Nur Madobe.
Laftagareen's faction described the assault as an operation to restore security and order, claiming its Darawish forces inflicted heavy losses on groups it called "Salbalaar" and "Afbalaar." The statement also accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's government and Türkiye of carrying out airstrikes against Baidoa during the fighting, alleging that Turkish F-16 fighter jets were used, causing deaths, injuries, and destruction of civilian property.
However, the current South West administration gave a sharply different account, stating that government forces had restored calm after repelling what it described as an al-Shabab attack on the city. Spokesperson Mohamed Sheikh Abdullahi Hayow said Somali federal forces and South West Darawish units had fought together to repel the attackers and later conducted security operations across Baidoa.
Hayow accused senior al-Shabab commanders of directing the assault, identifying several individuals he said were involved, including Macallin Saalax, Jaylaani, Guuleed, and Xasan Yacquub. He added that authorities would release further information on casualties, detainees, and the course of the fighting.
The competing accounts of the fighting could not be independently reconciled. Somalia's federal government has repeatedly accused forces loyal to Laftagareen of coordinating with al-Shabab, an allegation his camp has denied. Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi referred to the attackers as "terrorist twins," linking Laftagareen's forces with the militant group.
Monday's fighting was the latest escalation in a months-long struggle over control of South West State. Federal forces took control of Baidoa in March after a political dispute between Laftagareen and Mohamud's government. Laftagareen later left the city, while Adan Madobe was installed as the new regional president. Laftagareen's supporters reject that transition and continue to regard his faction as the legitimate South West administration.
The clashes raised concerns that the political dispute could draw forces away from operations against al-Shabab and expose civilians in Baidoa to further fighting. This is not the first time Laftagareen-aligned forces have launched attacks on Baidoa, with major clashes occurring on Sept. 3. The federal government accused his fighters of operating alongside al-Shabab during that assault, while Laftagareen's camp denied any cooperation with the militant group.
Key points
- The fighting in Baidoa involved forces loyal to former regional President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen and federal troops supporting the administration of President Adan Mohamed Nur Madobe.
- The current South West administration accused al-Shabab of directing the assault, while Laftagareen's faction claimed government forces and Türkiye carried out airstrikes against Baidoa.
- The clashes are part of a months-long struggle over control of South West State, with concerns that the political dispute could draw forces away from operations against al-Shabab.
