South West State Denies Baidoa Clashes As Conflicting Reports Emerge

GOOBJOOG NEWS|BAIDOA: Authorities in South West State have denied reports of armed clashes in Baidoa after conflicting accounts emerged suggesting fighting between regional security forces and opposition-aligned fighters in the city.

South West State’s Minister of Information, Mohamed Ibrahim Bilal, said there had been no armed confrontation in Baidoa, dismissing the reports as inaccurate.

Bilal acknowledged, however, that tensions exist between the regional administration and an unnamed group he said is based in Mogadishu. He described the situation as a political dispute rather than a security incident.

“The reports of fighting in Baidoa are not true. What exists is a strong political disagreement between the administration and a group in Mogadishu,” the minister said.

Despite the denial, residents and sources inside Baidoa say there has been heightened security activity in parts of the city, including increased troop movements and heightened alert among security forces.

The situation comes at a time when the President of South West State, Abdiasis Hassan Mohamed (Lafta-Gareen), is outside the country. Sources say he is currently in Saudi Arabia where he travelled to perform the Umrah pilgrimage.

Baidoa, the administrative capital of South West State, has in recent months experienced intermittent political tensions linked to disputes between regional authorities and opposition figures.

In February 2026, clashes were reported in the city between South West State security forces and armed groups believed to be aligned with opposition politicians. The incidents reportedly resulted in casualties, although the exact number of deaths and injuries was not independently confirmed.

At the time, the South West State administration described the fighters as armed militias attempting to destabilize the city, while opposition figures accused the authorities of targeting political rivals.