Federal Forces Take Control of Baidoa as FGS Moves to Assert Authority in South West

GOOBJOOG NEWS|BAIDOA: Federal Government forces have taken control of Baidoa, the interim capital of South West State, in a dramatic escalation of the ongoing political standoff between Mogadishu and the regional administration.
In a statement issued Monday, the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) said Somali Security Forces entered Baidoa “in response to the will of the people” and to uphold national stability, unity, and statehood. The government framed the move as a response to public discontent, claiming residents had risen against the South West leadership over alleged governance violations.
The development places federal authority at the centre of the crisis, with troops now firmly positioned in the city in what appears to be a coordinated takeover. Residents and local sources report a visible presence of federal forces across key installations, marking a decisive shift in control of the strategic town.
The move comes just days after South West President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed “Laftagareen” was re-elected on Friday in a process already rejected by the FGS as unconstitutional and illegitimate. His current whereabouts remain unclear, with unconfirmed reports indicating that Ethiopian forces were guarding the presidential villa in Baidoa at the time federal troops entered the city.
While the FGS statement praised elders and residents for welcoming the deployment, the broader political implications are significant. This is widely seen as an unprecedented attempt by the federal government to directly unseat a sitting leader of a Federal Member State through security intervention rather than negotiated political processes.
The standoff reflects deepening fractures between Mogadishu and Baidoa, which have intensified in recent weeks amid disputes over electoral legitimacy, governance, and federal authority. South West had earlier severed ties with the federal government, further escalating tensions.
In its statement, the FGS sought to reassure the public, pledging that the operation would not lead to reprisals and that the safety of civilians and property would be guaranteed. It also called for calm and unity during what it described as a “sensitive period.”
However, the situation on the ground remains fluid, with uncertainty surrounding the response of South West loyalist forces and the role of external actors, particularly Ethiopian troops reportedly present in the city.
The takeover of Baidoa signals a critical turning point in Somalia’s federal system, raising urgent questions about constitutional order, the limits of federal intervention, and the future relationship between the central government and regional states.