Federal-Backed Forces Seize Much of Baidoa as Armed Standoff Grips City

GOOBJOOG NEWS|BAIDOA: Forces aligned with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), supported by an armed opposition faction known as the South West Salvation Army, have taken control of most of Baidoa, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing political and security crisis in South West State.

Local sources indicate that the allied forces have advanced into key neighborhoods across the city and are now holding several strategic positions in central Baidoa. Their rapid territorial gains follow earlier clashes and signal a shift in control within the interim regional capital.

Ethiopian troops stationed in Baidoa have meanwhile moved to secure critical infrastructure, including the presidential palace and the airport. The forces have reportedly reinforced defensive perimeters around these installations, seeking to prevent direct confrontation between rival Somali forces in areas considered highly sensitive.

Despite their advances, federal-aligned and Salvation Army forces have reportedly been ordered to halt at the central police station, stopping short of pushing toward the presidential palace. This has created a tense and fragile standoff, with opposing armed groups positioned within close range of one another.

Forces loyal to South West State President Abdi Aziz Hassan Laftagareen are said to have withdrawn from several areas and regrouped in pockets of the city, maintaining a presence in zones not yet overtaken. The city is now effectively divided, with different factions controlling separate areas.

The developments come days after Laftagareen’s contested re-election on Friday, a process rejected by the Federal Government as unlawful, further intensifying political tensions between Mogadishu and the South West administration.

While there are no confirmed reports of renewed large-scale fighting since the latest territorial shifts, the situation remains highly volatile. Movement within Baidoa is restricted, businesses remain closed in many areas, and residents continue to shelter indoors amid uncertainty over whether the standoff could escalate into further violence.