Somali army clashes with local forces in Baidoa as civilians are stranded

Intense fighting has broken out in the Somali city of Baidoa between government forces and fighters loyal to the ousted regional president. The clashes were reported on Monday in South West State, with fighter jets and drones also seen during the violence. Civilians were left stranded as they tried to flee or reach hospitals, according to accounts from the city.

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A senior army commander said the national army confronted the fighters, inflicted heavy casualties and drove them out of the city. He said the local fighters had vehicles loaded with explosives and explosive drones. The commander's account was given as the fighting followed the arrival of thousands of local fighters in the morning.

Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, the ousted regional president, later congratulated the fighters and said the aim was to maintain security and restore stability and diversity in Baidoa. The medical charity Doctors Without Borders said three people had died, including a healthcare worker. Medical teams working with the Ministry of Health at Bay Regional Hospital said they had received 69 patients affected by the violence, including five children.

Roads leading to hospitals were blocked, and the aid agency said many wounded people may be unable to reach treatment. It also said a health facility was severely damaged, an ambulance was looted, and two medical staff were robbed, with one injured. The fighting matters because Baidoa is the administrative capital of South West State and has been a repeated flashpoint in the contest between the federal government and local loyalists.

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The city has seen violence in recent weeks as the army has tried to maintain control after taking it earlier this year. The latest clashes also underline the wider political tensions in Somalia, where several states oppose President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. This is the third time in six weeks that fighting has erupted in Baidoa, according to the medical charity.

It said the repeated violence has had devastating consequences for civilians and has put healthcare workers at risk. The reported use of drones, explosive vehicles and air power suggests a more serious level of confrontation than a local street battle. The situation also raises concerns about access to hospitals and the safety of aid and medical staff in the city.

What remains unclear is the full scale of casualties and how much territory, if any, has changed hands. It is also not clear how long the roads to hospitals will remain blocked or whether the wounded will be able to reach treatment. The next developments to watch are whether the army can hold Baidoa, whether local fighters regroup, and whether the federal government or regional authorities issue further statements.

#Somalia #Baidoa #SouthWestState #Somaliarmy #DoctorsWithoutBorders

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