BAIDOA– Armed clashes broke out on the outskirts of Baidoa on Saturday after forces reportedly loyal to former South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen launched an attack on positions held by Federal Government security forces and South West State security personnel, according to local authorities and multiple sources familiar with the incident.

The fighting was concentrated around the Livestock Market area on the eastern outskirts of the city, where heavy exchanges of gunfire reportedly continued for nearly an hour before the situation was brought under control.

Officials from the Interim Administration of South West State said security forces successfully repelled the attack, capturing several wounded combatants and seizing a military vehicle mounted with a twin-barrel anti-aircraft gun.

Senior security officials convened an emergency meeting in Baidoa following the incident to assess the security situation and coordinate response measures. Preliminary decisions reportedly focused on strengthening security deployments and reinforcing positions considered vulnerable to further attacks.

The latest confrontation comes amid rising tensions between the Interim Administration of South West State and forces alleged to be aligned with former President Laftagareen. Regional authorities have recently vowed to take action against armed groups accused of carrying out repeated attacks on government security installations and undermining stability in the region.

Speaking to local media, Bay Regional Police Commander Sadiq Adan Ali Doodishe confirmed that casualties were inflicted on the attacking forces, including both fatalities and injuries. He also confirmed the capture of a military vehicle during the operation.

Commander Doodishe appealed to young fighters involved in the conflict to surrender, warning against becoming involved in politically motivated violence.

“We urge the young men engaged in these hostilities to lay down their arms and surrender. They should not allow themselves to be drawn into conflict by political actors who are not present on the battlefield. The greatest tragedy is to see young lives lost or permanently injured as a result of political manipulation,” he said.

In a separate statement, the Interim Administration of South West State asserted that political figures involved in organizing or encouraging armed confrontations would bear responsibility for any casualties or damage resulting from the violence.

No independent casualty figures were immediately available, and authorities have not yet released an official death toll. The security situation in Baidoa remained tense throughout the day, although no further clashes had been reported at the time of publication.

The incident underscores continuing political and security tensions in South West State, where disputes over leadership and governance have periodically fueled instability and armed confrontations.