Somali was a heavy fight in the strategic city of Baidoa in Somalia as the federal military forces engaged in a battle against armed militia loyal to the former president of the Southwest State, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen.
Federal forces managed to expel the opposing force from the city after a long period of fighting. According to the Defense Ministry of the Somali government, government forces killed about 30 attackers during an attack that occurred very early in the morning with vehicles carrying explosives. Locals spoke about casualties among civilians and government soldiers as the fight was raging through parts of the city.
The latest clash follows a recent dispute over the country’s federal arrangement and constitutional change in Somalia.
Federal Troops Force Baidoa Attackers out of Town
The clash started early morning when forces allied to Laftagareen attacked federal government forces who were in their positions in the city.
The Defence Ministry of Somalia stated that the attackers had used vehicles laden with explosives in the attack but that the government forces managed to repulse them. It stated the death toll of opposition fighters in the attack to be close to 30.
The battle went on for some hours with the use of heavy weaponry, after which government forces forced the attackers out of the city.
However, the claims of casualties have not been verified independently, while the witnesses also reported the deaths of both civilians and military men in the attack.
Why Is Baidoa Significant in Somalia?
Baidoa serves as the capital of the South West State and one of the most strategically important towns in the country. It is found roughly 245 kilometres northwest of Mogadishu and has come to be the most significant town in terms of hosting refugees.
There are hundreds of thousands of refugees in and around Baidoa.
Strategically speaking, the city is also significant in terms of the general struggle for security between Somalia’s federal forces, regional authorities and al-Shabaab.
Political Dispute Leads to Further Fighting
The fights stem from a wider conflict between the Somali federal government, based in Mogadishu, and the authorities of South West State.
Conflict has heated up over the issue of political power, constitutional reform and electoral arrangements. The dispute has repeatedly threatened Somalia’s attempts to enhance its federal political structure.
The supporters of Laftagareen have opposed the federal government’s actions, which they see as increasing Mogadishu’s influence over regional matters.
In the past, the political dispute has led to open conflict in Baidoa. Federal forces attacked the city in March, backed by Turkish forces, and since then the majority of Laftagareen’s forces have allegedly surrendered.
Laftagareen has quit his post as the president of South West State.
Humanitarian Crisis in Baidoa Fuels Worries
The recent violence is likely to exacerbate the existing serious humanitarian crisis in Baidoa.
In August, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) warned that “malnutrition is growing more serious in Somalia” due to a sharp drop in humanitarian aid. One in four children surveyed in the displacement camps in Baidoa was found to suffer from severe malnutrition, according to MSF.
MSF has also stated that it has treated hundreds of thousands of malnourished patients in Somalia this year amid a sharp fall in aid for nutrition programs.
Further displacement or disruption of medical services in Baidoa will thus add to problems of people suffering from malnutrition and lack of necessities.
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Clashes May Hinder Somalia’s Struggle against al-Shabaab
In addition to the political rivalry, it poses questions for Somalia’s broader efforts to secure the country.
Federal soldiers are continuing their fight against al-Shabaab, a militant organization linked to al-Qaeda that continues to pose serious threats to the nation.
Experts have said that political differences between the Federal Government and regional authorities will take away attention and resources from counter-insurgency operations.
The conflict in Baidoa is especially delicate, since while consolidating itself, the federal government is fighting al-Shabaab, using both regional and other security organizations.
