Baidoa (WDN) – Tensions flared in the Bay region today as local sources confirmed a growing presence of Al-Shabaab fighters near Baidoa, the capital of the Southwest State’s Interim Administration.

Militants from the Al-Qaeda-linked terror group were spotted regrouping in several villages surrounding Baidoa, sparking fears of renewed clashes. Witnesses say the group is actively mobilizing forces following a recent defeat in Burjeed, a town in the same region, where Southwest State forces, backed by government troops, dealt Al-Shabaab a major blow.

In a dramatic scene intended to boost public morale and deter future attacks, the bodies of Al-Shabaab fighters killed in the Burjeed battle were brought into Baidoa and displayed at the city’s four main gates. The move drew large crowds of residents.

The situation around Baidoa remains tense as the group’s renewed movements appear linked to the recent fighting and may signal further attempts to reclaim influence in the Bay region.

Strikingly, this mobilization follows a strategic shift by Al-Shabaab. Just last week, the group lifted decade-long sanctions it had imposed on several municipalities in Bay and Bakool, allowing commercial vehicles carrying essential goods to enter for the first time in ten years.

While the Southwest State administration has not yet issued an official response, residents remain on edge amid reports of militant commander Khawaja’s movement in the region.

Despite recent setbacks, Al-Shabaab remains a potent threat across Bay and Bakool, continuing to target military outposts with surprise attacks. Meanwhile, the Somali government is embroiled in intense battles in the Shabelle region, where fighting near Mogadishu has escalated.

WardheerNews