World News
Somali military reports repelling militia assault in Baidoa
Federal forces clashed with fighters loyal to an ousted regional governor amid ongoing political disputes in South West State.
The short version
- Somalia's Defence Ministry stated that federal forces repelled an early morning attack in Baidoa launched by militias loyal to ousted governor Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen.
- The assault involved hours of gunfire and explosions across the city, driving local residents indoors.
- A spokesperson for the pro-Laftagareen faction claimed their forces seized parts of Baidoa, contrasting with official and resident reports that the fighting had subsided.
- The full casualty toll remains unknown as Somali authorities conduct an assessment.
Key facts
- Somalia's Defence Ministry announced that its forces repelled an attack in Baidoa carried out by militias loyal to former South West State governor Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen.[Al Jazeera]
- Federal troops originally ousted Laftagareen in March, after which his forces launched prior attempts to retake the area in May and August.[Al Jazeera]
- Residents reported several hours of explosions and gunfire across multiple neighborhoods before the city became calm.[Al Jazeera]
- The Defence Ministry alleged that the attacking factions operated alongside the armed group al-Shabab.[Al Jazeera]
What remains uncertain
- The total number of casualties remains unverified while the Somali Defence Ministry carries out an initial investigation.[Al Jazeera]
- Conflicting claims persist regarding territorial control, with a pro-Laftagareen spokesperson claiming capture of city sectors while the military asserts the assault was fully defeated.[Al Jazeera]