Baled Xawo, Gedo (WDN) — The border town of Baled Xawo is witnessing the gradual return of residents displaced by intense clashes between Federal Government forces and Jubaland’s Dervish, even as fears of renewed conflict hang over the community.

The fighting, which erupted recently, left people’s death, injuries and triggered a wave of displacement. Many residents sought safety across the border in Kenya’s Mandera town, while others fled to rural settlements in the nearby Baled-Xawo area within Somalia.

According to local sources who talked to WardheerNews, the clashes were sparked by the Somali National Army’s (SNA) latest push to extend Federal Government control over the strategic border town. SNA units, brought in from Mogadishu, moved into the city. The SNA troops faced stiff resistance from Jubaland’s Dervish troops, who had long maintained a defensive presence in Baled Xawo as part of Jubaland’s territory.

The confrontation reflects the deep-seated tensions between the Federal Government of Somalia and the Jubaland administration, led by President Ahmed Madobe. The Gedo region has been a persistent flashpoint, with both sides deploying forces to assert authority. The standoff is part of a broader struggle over political control, resources, and influence along the Somalia–Kenya border.

After several days of armed exchanges, Jubaland’s Dervish units pulled back, enabling SNA troops to enter the town without further resistance. While Federal Government officials hailed the move as a “restoration of order,” Jubaland leaders have described their withdrawal as a tactical regrouping, vowing to retake Baled Xawo in the near future.

Over the weekend, residents began trickling back into the town. Some arrived on foot from nearby villages, while others traveled by vehicle from more distant areas.

For now, Baled Xawo is calm but heavily militarized, with an unmistakable air of uncertainty. Shops are reopening, but many locals remain wary, fearing that the fragile peace could collapse if Jubaland forces attempt a counter-offensive.

Local elders have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged both sides to pursue dialogue to avoid plunging the town into another cycle of violence and displacement.

WardheerNews