Reports from Balad Hawo district in Gedo region say that intense confrontations are underway which ensued between troops loyal to the Somali Federal Gov’t and Jubaland forces. Reports indicate that the fighting is underway in several villages in the town and UK’s military base that lies in the outskirts of Balad Hawo.
The fighting in Balad Hawo entered the second week running. Eyewitnesses say that most of the intense clashes are underway in the East of the town where UK’s military base is located, and is a base for Abdirashid Hasan Abdinur alias Janan, who is the head of Jubaland’s security agency and also in charge of the security in the entire Gedo region.
Reports further disclose that the troops used all kinds of heavy weapons and the sound of explosions of heavy artillery could be heard in the villages in the town. Abdinasir Adan Farah who is among the residents in Balad Hawo town told that troops loyal to the Somali Federal Gov’t are trying to enter the town by force, but they could not overpower the resistance from Jubaland troops.
He pointed out that troops loyal to the Somali Federal Gov’t tried on Sunday to expand their presence in parts of the villages in the town but were forced to retreat back.
He told that the armed confrontations were intense in contrast to the skirmishes that transpired in the town on Monday. Reports further reveal that the warring sides fired mortars which landed in the villages in the town.
The number of residents who started to flee from the armed confrontations have increased. Armed clashes erupted in Balad Hawo town on July 22, 2025 which ensued between troops that are loyal to the SFG and Jubaland forces who are fighting over the control of the town. Most of those displaced in the clashes arrived in Mandera district in North East of Kenya.
