Somali Federal Troops Repel Militia Attack in Baidoa

The Federal Government of Somalia repelled a heavy assault on Baidoa on Monday, August 17, 2026, after forces loyal to former South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen launched a pre-dawn attack. The fighting involved heavy weapons and vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices targeting military bases and the city center. While Laftagareen's spokesperson initially claimed his forces had captured the city to restore "freedom and dignity," residents and federal officials reported that government troops successfully expelled the opposition.

Reports on casualties vary. The federal government stated approximately 30 assailants were killed, while South West state authorities claimed roughly 50 combatant deaths. At least four civilians were killed and 98 wounded during the urban combat. Some reports indicate the attacking militias were coordinated with al-Shabab extremists.

The violence stems from a political dispute after the federal government rejected Laftagareen's disputed re-election in March and replaced him with Aden Mohamed Nur Madobe. The clashes have strained local health services and threatened a humanitarian crisis in a city that hosts hundreds of thousands of displaced people suffering from severe malnutrition.