Baidoa (WDN) – Heavy fighting erupted in Baidoa after armed fighters reportedly loyal to former Southwest State President Abdiaziz Laftagareen launched a surprise attack on a military base jointly occupied by Federal Government and Southwest State security forces, underscoring the deepening instability in the region.

According to local sources, the assault targeted the Baaliyaale military camp in Baidoa’s Towfiq neighborhood. Intense exchanges of gunfire broke out as government forces attempted to repel the attackers.

Witnesses also reported an explosion inside or near the military installation during the confrontation, with preliminary reports indicating casualties. However, the exact number of those killed or injured has not yet been independently verified.

The fighting caused significant property damage in surrounding neighborhoods, while terrified residents fled or sought shelter as stray bullets struck civilian areas. The latest violence has heightened fears among Baidoa residents, who have witnessed a steady deterioration in security amid escalating political and military tensions.

Unconfirmed reports circulating after the clash claimed that the commander of the attacked military base may have been killed in the explosion. Authorities have not confirmed the claim, and no official casualty list has been released.

The attack marks another sign of the increasingly volatile security situation in Southwest State, where forces aligned with the former regional president have reportedly intensified armed resistance against the current administration and its federal allies.

As of publication, neither the Federal Government of Somalia nor the Southwest State administration had issued an official statement on the incident, leaving many questions unanswered about the scale of the attack, the casualty toll, and the potential implications for security in Baidoa.

The latest clash is expected to deepen concerns over the fragile security landscape in Southwest State, where political rivalries are increasingly spilling onto the battlefield, raising fears of a broader escalation that could further destabilize one of Somalia’s most strategically important federal member states.

WardheerNews