Baidoa, Somalia (Running Africa) — Somali government forces say they have regained full control of the strategic city of Baidoa following heavy clashes with troops loyal to ousted South West State leader Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, as political tensions deepen between Mogadishu and regional authorities.

The fighting erupted on Monday and continued for several hours across parts of the city, with Laftagareen’s forces reportedly briefly capturing several areas before withdrawing as federal troops pushed back.

Somalia’s federal government accused the former regional leader’s forces of launching the attack with support from Al-Shabaab militants, including the use of vehicles packed with explosives. The allegation has not been independently verified.

Government forces said nearly 30 militants were killed during the fighting.

Somali Government Forces Regain Control of Baidoa

Residents reported hours of intense fighting across several areas of Baidoa as federal troops battled forces loyal to Laftagareen for control of the city.

Witnesses said the former regional leader’s troops initially made advances and briefly seized parts of Baidoa before government forces regained the initiative.

Federal troops later said they had restored full control of the city.

The fighting resulted in deaths, injuries and detentions, although a complete casualty figure has not been independently established.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) confirmed that multiple casualties were taken to local hospitals following the clashes.

Somalia Accuses Rival Forces of Al-Shabaab Support

The federal government accused Laftagareen’s forces of coordinating the assault with Al-Shabaab, the Islamist militant group that has waged an insurgency against the Somali state for years.

Officials alleged that explosive-laden vehicles were used during the attack and said government forces killed nearly 30 militants while repelling the offensive.

The claims of Al-Shabaab involvement have not been independently confirmed.

The allegation adds a significant security dimension to what is also a deepening political confrontation between Somalia’s federal authorities and regional forces.

Why Baidoa Is Strategically Important

Baidoa is one of southern Somalia’s most important cities and has long held political, military and humanitarian significance.

As a major population center and the capital of South West State, control of the city carries considerable importance for both federal authorities and regional political actors.

The latest clashes therefore represent more than a local security confrontation, exposing broader divisions over political power and federal authority in Somalia.

Tensions Grow Between Mogadishu and Regional Leaders

The violence comes amid growing tensions between the government of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and regional leaders opposed to greater federal control.

Disagreements over democratic reforms, elections and the distribution of political authority have complicated Somalia’s attempts to strengthen national institutions.

Those disputes exist alongside longstanding clan rivalries, creating additional pressure on a political system already struggling with insecurity.

The confrontation in Baidoa demonstrates how political disputes can quickly develop into armed conflict, potentially creating further challenges for the federal government’s stabilization efforts.

Political Crisis Complicates Somalia’s Fight Against Al-Shabaab

Somalia continues to battle a long-running Al-Shabaab insurgency, despite years of military operations by government forces and international partners.

Political fragmentation risks making that campaign even more difficult by diverting security resources and creating divisions among forces that might otherwise be focused on combating the militant group.

With federal troops claiming control of Baidoa following Monday’s clashes, immediate attention will turn to whether the fighting resumes and how the government handles those detained during the confrontation.

For Somalia, the violence underscores a broader challenge: efforts to defeat Al-Shabaab are unfolding alongside an increasingly complicated struggle over federalism, elections and political power that continues to test the country’s fragile stability.