Fierce Fighting in Southwestern Somalia Claims Dozens of Lives

Fierce clashes between government troops and militias in Somalia’s southwestern city of Baidoa have resulted in a significant loss of life, with at least four civilians among the dead.

The fighting, which began early on Monday, saw militia groups launch a surprise attack on government positions on the outskirts of the city, leading to hours of intense combat. According to reports, the clashes killed dozens of combatants, with at least 30 attackers confirmed dead by Somali officials.

Dr. Abdikafi Omar Mohamud, the head of the emergencies department at Bay Regional Hospital in Baidoa, revealed that the fighting also claimed the lives of at least four civilians, including women and an elderly man, who were hit by stray bullets. In addition, 98 others were wounded, with 28 women and the elderly man among the injured.

The hospital, which had only 40 beds available, set up an emergency tent to accommodate the influx of patients. Medical workers were also struggling with shortages of essential medicines, further exacerbating the situation.

Calm eventually returned to Baidoa on Tuesday, with security forces patrolling the major streets and inspecting damaged buildings and vehicles. Residents cautiously emerged from their homes, although troops maintained a heavy presence in key areas.

The violence is the latest in a series of clashes in the region, which has been plagued by conflict and drought. The fighting has placed additional pressure on health services, which are already struggling to serve residents and displacement camps in Baidoa.

The situation in Baidoa is further complicated by the fact that the city is home to over half a million people displaced by conflict and drought. The city’s infrastructure is also severely strained, with many residents relying on aid organizations for basic necessities.

According to Samira Gaid, a regional security analyst at Balqiis Insights, the fighting began shortly after 5 a.m. on Monday with two explosions near a military base east of Baidoa. Heavy fighting then broke out around another base in Bonkay, south of the city, before armed men entered Baidoa and exchanged fire with government troops.

Fighters loyal to former South West state President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen displaced the new administration’s troops from parts of Baidoa for about six hours before being driven from the city, Gaid said. In separate attacks, fighters of the al-Qaida-linked extremist group al-Shabab struck two Somali military positions on Baidoa’s outskirts, Gaid added.

The Somali federal government said the attackers included Laftagareen-aligned militias and fighters from al-Shabab. The government claimed its forces killed nearly 30 attackers and captured several others. South West state authorities reported a higher toll, saying about 50 attackers were killed.

Neither figure could be independently verified, and authorities did not explain the discrepancy. The government also accused Laftagareen’s forces of coordinating with al-Shabab, a claim that has not been confirmed.

South West Internal Security Minister Isak Mohamed Korsaar said that government troops recovered the bodies of al-Shabab fighters and captured others alive.