BAIDOA — The violence began shortly after 5 a.m. on Monday with two explosions near a military base east of Baidoa. Heavy fighting broke out minutes after the initial explosions around another base in Bonkay, south of the city. In separate attacks, fighters of the al-Qaida-linked extremist group al-Shabab struck two Somali military positions on Baidoa’s outskirts.

Dr. Abdikafi Omar Mohamud, head of the emergencies department at Bay Regional Hospital, stated that 98 people were injured in the fighting, including 28 women and an elderly man. Bay Regional Hospital had 40 beds available and erected an emergency tent to accommodate casualties. Captain Osman Abdullahi, a Somalia federal military officer, stated that there were casualties as stray bullets entered houses. At least four civilians were killed in the fighting.

Isak Mohamed Korsaar, South West Internal Security Minister, addressed the allegations of coordination with extremists. "The militias that attacked us were not alone. We have confirmed that they were accompanied by al-Shabab." Korsaar said.

Baidoa is located approximately 245 kilometers (150 miles) northwest of Mogadishu. The city is home to more than half a million people displaced by conflict and drought. Security forces patrolled major streets and inspected damaged buildings and vehicles in Baidoa on Tuesday.

Why It Matters

The clash shows the ongoing instability in the South West state, an intercardinal direction between south and west. The involvement of al-Shabab fighters in separate attacks on military positions reflects the complex security environment facing federal forces. The discrepancy in reported attacker casualties between federal and state authorities points to challenges in verifying combat outcomes.

The political roots of the conflict trace back to March 2026, when Laftagareen severed ties with Mogadishu over constitutional amendments pushed through by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. These amendments extended the president's term in office by one year. Federal troops took control of Baidoa on March 30, 2026, leading to Laftagareen's resignation. The renewed fighting demonstrates the fragility of that resolution and the continued risk to the large displaced population in the region.

Timeline

Fighting between Somali government troops and militias occurred in Baidoa on Monday, August 17, 2026. The Somali federal government accused fighters loyal to former South West state President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen of coordinating with al-Shabab. The Somali federal government stated that its forces killed attackers. Fighters loyal to Laftagareen displaced government troops from parts of Baidoa for approximately six hours before being driven out.

What's New

Further context reveals that Laftagareen severed ties with Mogadishu in March over constitutional amendments pushed through by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Baidoa is home to more than half a million people displaced by conflict and drought. The constitutional amendments extended President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term in office by one year. South West is intercardinal direction between south and west.