Military Commanders Review South West Security Ahead Of Local Elections

GOOBJOOG NEWS | BAIDOA: Senior Somali military commanders have held high-level security talks in the southwestern city of Baidoa as the federal government intensifies efforts to secure South West State ahead of ongoing one-person, one-vote elections.

The meeting, chaired by Deputy Ground Forces Commander Abdullahi Hussein Cirro, brought together senior officers from key Somali National Army units, including the commander of the 60th Division, Colonel Isaaq, and the commander of the 17th GorGor Brigade, Colonel Hussein Moolif.

According to military officials, the discussions focused on strengthening security operations in Baidoa and surrounding areas, with particular attention on protecting election activities and maintaining stability across South West State.

The commanders also reviewed ongoing offensives against Al-Shabaab, which continues to carry out attacks in parts of southern and central Somalia despite increased military pressure from Somali government forces and allied local fighters.

For the federal government, securing the elections in South West State is seen as a major test of Somalia’s broader efforts to expand democratic participation and extend state authority into areas previously affected by militant influence.

Federal government officials say additional security deployments have been positioned around key towns and strategic locations in the region to ensure the electoral process proceeds safely and without disruption.

The meeting highlights the growing coordination between Somalia’s military leadership and regional authorities as the government pushes ahead with both security operations and political reforms simultaneously.

Baidoa remains one of Somalia’s most strategically important cities and serves as a major center for federal government operations and regional security coordination in southwestern Somalia.