At least five people were confirmed dead and several others were wounded after fierce fighting erupted in the outskirts of Bardaale district in Baay region.
Bardaale district authority said that Southwest State security forces engaged in a heavy fighting with Al-Shabab militants.
Some of Bardaale local residents told the BBC Somali that the fighting broke out between Southwest State security forces and clan militia who were angry with Bardaale district authority.
Head of Bardaale district, Mohamed Isak Hassan told that the security forces were patrolling and clashed with Al-Shabab militants in an area 18 km South of Bardaale district.
He told that the security forces defeated Al-Shabab fighters.
He strongly refuted that the security forces clashed with armed clan militia who were stationed in that area, and who were furious with Bardaale authority.
He said: “Al-shabab and the government are at war. If the clan militia were furious. They lived with AL-shabab for a year now. They participated the fighting in Biadoa and were taken to Central Somalia. They are Al-Shabab members. It is not doubtful that they belong to the group.”
