Troops Reportedly Join Lafta-Gareen’s Forces amid Tensions in Waajid

GOOBJOOOG NEWS | WAJID: A group of soldiers stationed in Waajid district, in Somalia’s Bakool region, have reportedly defected from their units and joined forces loyal to former South West state leader Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Lafta-Gareen, amid rising political and security tensions in the area.

The number of soldiers involved and the circumstances of their reported defection could not immediately be verified.

The reported shift comes as rival political and military factions vie for control of South West state, where a dispute over the regional leadership has escalated into clashes and troop movements in recent weeks.

Waajid, near the border with Ethiopia, is a strategic district in Bakool. Reports of a possible offensive to seize the town have heightened concerns over a new confrontation, though no attack was confirmed in the information available.

Lafta-Gareen, who was removed from office by the federal government, continues to challenge the authority of the administration led by Aadan Mohamed Nur, known as Aadan Madoobe. The dispute has deepened divisions among local officials and security forces.

There was no immediate statement from either side confirming the reported defection or providing details about the security situation in Waajid.

The developments underscore the fragility of the security situation in South West state, where political rivalries have increasingly affected troop deployments and raised fears of further instability.