Renewed Fighting Erupts in Baidoa as Somali Army Battles Forces Loyal to Ousted Regional Leader

Heavy combat returned to the South West State city of Baidoa on Monday, as Somalia's national army traded fire with fighters backing the region's deposed president, in the latest eruption of a power struggle that has destabilized the administrative capital for weeks.

According to military officials and news agency reports, the clashes began in the morning when thousands of local fighters entered the city in an attempt to seize control. The assault triggered an intense response from government troops, who said they successfully repelled the incursion after hours of fighting that left parts of the city paralyzed.

"The national army confronted them, inflicted heavy casualties and drove them out of the city," senior army commander Mohamed Ali said, according to AFP. He added that the attacking forces had deployed vehicles loaded with explosives as well as explosive drones, marking an escalation in the tactics used during the recurring confrontations.

The fighting pits the federal government of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud against forces loyal to Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, the regional leader who was removed from office earlier this year. In March, federal troops were sent to oust Laftagareen from the South West State presidency, a move that has since fueled repeated attempts by his supporters to retake the region's administrative capital.

Laftagareen has publicly celebrated the operation, congratulating his fighters and framing the offensive as a mission to "maintain security [and] restore stability and diversity" in Baidoa. His statement, posted on social media, signaled that he intends to continue pressing for a return to power despite the federal government's opposition.

The human cost of Monday's violence quickly became apparent. The medical charity Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, reported that three people had been killed, including a healthcare worker. The aid group described the situation as deeply alarming, noting that civilians bore the brunt of the day's hostilities.

Local resident Hussein Abdifatah told AFP that the clashes persisted throughout the day. "There were heavy clashes all day in the city," he said. "Most of the civilians have difficulties fleeing because both sides are fighting everywhere." His account underscores the sense of encirclement and fear that has gripped residents as fighting spreads across neighborhoods.

Medical facilities in the city struggled to cope with the influx of wounded. Teams working with the Ministry of Health at Baidoa's Bay Regional Hospital said they had received 69 patients affected by the violence, among them five children. The figure reflects both the intensity of the combat and the vulnerability of noncombatants caught in the crossfire.

Access to care remained a critical concern. Roads leading to hospitals in Baidoa were blocked, and MSF warned that many wounded people were unable to reach treatment in time. The organization said a health facility was severely damaged and an ambulance was looted during the chaos, further eroding the city's already fragile medical infrastructure.

Two medical staff working with MSF teams were robbed, and one was injured, according to the aid agency. Such attacks on health workers and facilities represent a serious violation of humanitarian norms and threaten the ability of organizations to operate in an increasingly volatile environment.

"This is the third time in six weeks that fighting has erupted in Baidoa, with devastating consequences for civilians," said Dr. Elshafie Mohammed, MSF's Somalia representative. "It is unacceptable that civilians and healthcare are being caught up in violence." His remarks highlight a pattern of repeated outbreaks that have left residents with little respite and limited access to essential services.

Monday's violence follows two earlier rounds of clashes. On August 17, fighting broke out in Baidoa, and Bay Regional Hospital reported four deaths and 94 wounded. On September 3, another assault was repelled, with 71 people treated for injuries and one death recorded. The recurrence of these incidents suggests a sustained campaign rather than isolated episodes.

The broader political context is one of tension between Somalia's federal government and several regional states that oppose President Mohamud's administration. The removal of Laftagareen in March was a decisive move by the federal authorities, but it did not eliminate his influence or the loyalty of his armed supporters, setting the stage for continued confrontation.

The use of explosive-laden vehicles and drones by the local fighters points to a worrying evolution in the conflict's militarization. Such weapons increase the potential for mass casualties and complicate efforts by government forces to secure urban areas without inflicting further harm on civilians.

For the people of Baidoa, the repeated cycles of violence have created a climate of chronic insecurity. Many are unable to flee because combatants operate throughout the city, and those who remain face blocked roads, damaged hospitals and a shrinking space for safe movement.

The international community has repeatedly called for restraint and the protection of civilians in Somalia's regional conflicts. However, with political grievances unresolved and both sides seemingly determined to assert control, the prospects for a durable ceasefire in Baidoa remain uncertain.

As night fell on Monday, the army claimed to have cleared the city of the attacking forces, but the underlying dispute over South West State's leadership is far from settled. Without a political agreement, Baidoa appears likely to remain a flashpoint, with civilians continuing to pay the highest price for a struggle among armed factions.