Fierce fighting erupted in Baidoa on Thursday morning, where armed clashes ensued between Somali Federal Forces and troops loyal to the former ousted President of Southwest State. The armed confrontation took place in the city and its surrounding areas, while heavy gunfire could be heard from several parts in Baidoa. The armed skirmishes lasted for several hours and had a far reaching impact on several villages where the Somali Federal Forces had already set up defense positions. Somali Federal Forces reportedly resisted against the attack launched by troops loyal to the ex-Southwest State leader, while tensions in the city were high for several hours.
Conversely, Southwest State administration said that the fighting had been concluded and groups in which the administration dubbed as Al-Shabab that attacked the city have been defeated. The administration further disclosed that bodies of troops that launched the attack in the first place will be presented to the public. Baidoa local residents were informed to remain calm and were further urged to cooperate with security agencies which are responsible for maintaining law and order and cleaning the groups that launched the attack on the city. However, the official number of casualties resulting from the armed clashes are not known as far as the situation is concerned.
The spokesman of former ousted Southwest State President, Mr. Ugaas Hassan Abdi Mohamed, talked about the armed skirmishes that transpired in Baidoa on the early hours of Thursday morning, noting that in what he described as Southwest State troops are conducting operations inside the city of Biadoa. He urged Baidoa residents to remain indoors as long as the operations are underway, further urging that civilians and children must not leave their residences until the troops are to wrap up the operations. He further disclosed this by calling on troops fighting in the city and those who remain elsewhere to surrender, further calling on the forces to report to the locations designated for registration and other procedures. He stated that the forces he supports intend to enter the city, and called on his troops to extend a helping hand to the people and treat those who surrender well.
This statement comes as fighting was reported this morning in the city of Biadoa between Federal Government Forces and troops loyal to the former President of Southwest State, Abdiasis Hassan Laftagaren. This is the second fighting to take place in Baidoa in the span of two weeks, occurring shortly after a large number of Federal Government Forces were deployed to the city to defend it. The casualties resulting from the attack launched this morning by Laftagrean’s forces are not yet known officially as both sides claim the upper hand regarding the armed clashes.
