(../../../../favicon_aje.ico) Somali army clashes with local forces for control of Baidoa | News | Al Jazeera    (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/28/somali-army-clashes-with-local-forces-for-control-of-baidoa)                                             (https://www.aljazeera.com/xml/rss/all.xml)  (https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/9/28/somali-army-clashes-with-local-forces-for-control-of-baidoa)  (https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ap_6aba996f7f393-1790613871.jpg?resize=1920%2C1440)  (../../../../wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ap_6aba996f7f393-1790613871.jpg@resize=770,513&quality=80)     (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org/scripttemplates/otSDKStub.js) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (../../../../static/css/vendor~main~d08ff9cb.24bf1742.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~748942c6.6c6e15fe.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~b07b7304.e3bc53a0.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~6e6dca10.74fd263a.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~5db14389.a7dc5dd5.r2.chunk.css) (https://www.aljazeera.com/static/media/Roboto-Bold.52bb58c8.woff2) (https://www.aljazeera.com/static/media/Roboto-Regular.c5bf51b6.woff2)  (../../../../static/css/vendor~aje/containers/home-page~components/video-article/videoPageDispatcher~containers/amp-live-blo~5f903362.2e08e417.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/component~aje/containers/home-page~components/video-article/videoPageDispatcher~containers/amp-live-~41c72a2c.3f309873.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/component~aje/containers/home-page~components/video-article/videoPageDispatcher~containers/amp-live-~06be7c11.0625e98d.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/common~493df0b3.ec3ab9b5.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/pages/article-page~493df0b3.accd71c7.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/common~493df0b3.ec3ab9b5.r2.chunk.css)   Skip links (somali-army-clashes-with-local-forces-for-control-of-baidoa@traffic_source=rss.html#main-content-area) Skip to Content  (https://www.aljazeera.com/)          (https://www.aljazeera.com/video/live) play    Live    Sign up  Show navigation menu     Navigation menu (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/) News    Show more news sections  (https://www.aljazeera.com/africa/) Africa   (https://www.aljazeera.com/asia/) Asia   (https://www.aljazeera.com/us-canada/) US & Canada   (https://www.aljazeera.com/latin-america/) Latin America   (https://www.aljazeera.com/europe/) Europe   (https://www.aljazeera.com/asia-pacific/) Asia Pacific      (https://www.aljazeera.com/middle-east/) Middle East   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/explainer/) Explained   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports) Sport   (https://www.aljazeera.com/opinion/) Opinion   (https://www.aljazeera.com/videos/) Video   More   Show more sections  (https://www.aljazeera.com/aljazeera-originals) Originals   (https://www.aljazeera.com/features/) Features   (https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/) Economy   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/human-rights/) Human Rights   (https://www.aljazeera.com/climate-crisis) Climate Crisis   (https://www.aljazeera.com/investigations/) Investigations   (https://www.aljazeera.com/interactives/) Interactives   (https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/) In Pictures   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/science-and-technology/) Science & Technology   (https://www.aljazeera.com/audio/podcasts) Podcasts   (https://www.aljazeera.com/travel) Travel   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sponsored/) Sponsored Content        (https://www.aljazeera.com/video/live) play    Live    Click here to search search     Sign up        (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/) News   Somali army clashes with local forces for control of Baidoa The latest outbreak of fighting in the South West State city stranded civilians unable to flee or reach hospitals.   Listen   Listen (2 mins)       Save       Share Somali army clashes with local forces for control of Baidoa on social media share-nodes    Share (https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fkn5goi) facebook      (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Somali%20army%20clashes%20with%20local%20forces%20for%20control%20of%20Baidoa&source=sharethiscom&related=sharethis&via=AJEnglish&url=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fkn5goi) x    (whatsapp://send?text=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fkn5goi) whatsapp-stroke    (https://aje.news/kn5goi)  copylink          google       Add Al Jazeera on Google  info      (In this photo taken with a smartphone, security personnel patrol a street in Baidoa, Somalia, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Bishar Mayow Mukhtar))   Security personnel patrol a street in Baidoa, Somalia [File: Bishar Mayow Mukhtar/AP Photo]   (https://www.aljazeera.com/author/al_jazeera_staff_150119130629458)     By  (https://www.aljazeera.com/author/al_jazeera_staff_150119130629458) Al Jazeera Staff and AFP   Published On 28 Sep 2026 28 Sep 2026    Intense clashes have broken out in the Somali city of Baidoa between government forces and fighters loyal to the ousted regional president. Fighter jets and drones were reported as the hostilities flared on Monday in the South West State city after thousands of local fighters entered the city in the morning. Violence has plagued the city in recent weeks as the army seeks to maintain the control it wrested earlier this year. Recommended Stories list of 3 items list 1 of 3 (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/10/algeria-cuts-diplomatic-ties-with-uae-what-we-know) Algeria cuts diplomatic ties with UAE: What we know  list 2 of 3 (https://www.aljazeera.com/news-analysis/2026/9/17/how-far-will-egypt-go-to-help-saudi-arabia-secure-the-red-sea) How far will Egypt go to help Saudi Arabia secure the Red Sea?  list 3 of 3 (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/23/yemen-government-forces-claim-control-of-mount-qarfan-in-taiz) Yemen government forces claim control of Mount Qarfan in Taiz   end of list  “The national army confronted them, inflicted heavy casualties and drove them out of the city,” senior army commander Mohamed Ali said, according to the AFP news agency. He added that the local fighters had vehicles loaded with explosives and explosive drones. A number of states in Somalia oppose President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. His government sent troops to oust the head of South West State, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen in March. Laftagareen has repeatedly attempted to retake the area, including the administrative capital of Baidoa. In a (https://www.facebook.com/Laftagareen/posts/pfbid02davTZcqsSkEpy2HU931PGVDSQgRhyj3yjbLjTZUKMDhxXcLTLBZgyPZfBJYVYNP4l?__cft__[0]=AZh8Z361Ya4sXyE6SUS1Wucgzg0AJqVbzGWec9frYFLpWY4y6vVc1Ndf88rUODM9-p_NvVf5ucWNiq2HG5kyAbujEMyf7GiZHQM2EP421i2ov7jiFNB3xTe7ys1Zurv8R8sH7W3wrZAuZuUDjxkQ9NQtCdH8qx5Gf41fx8UT7XcAF_VplmxG3l20ulc&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R) statement , Laftagareen congratulated fighters for the operation, saying that the aim was to “maintain security [and] restore stability and diversity” in Baidoa.       The medical NGO Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, said three people had died including a healthcare worker. “There were heavy clashes all day in the city,” local resident Hussein Abdifatah told AFP. “Most of the civilians have difficulties fleeing because both sides are fighting everywhere.” Medical teams working with the Ministry of Health at Baidoa’s Bay Regional Hospital said they had received 69 patients affected by the violence, including five children. Advertisement    Roads leading to hospitals in Baidoa were blocked, and MSF said it is concerned that many wounded people are unable to access treatment. “This is the third time in six weeks that fighting has erupted in Baidoa, with devastating consequences for civilians,” Dr Elshafie Mohammed, MSF’s Somalia representative, said. “It is unacceptable that civilians and healthcare are being caught up in violence.” A health facility was also reportedly severely damaged and an ambulance looted, the aid agency said. Two medical staff working with its teams were robbed and one was injured. (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/17/somali-army-clashes-with-rebel-forces-for-control-of-key-city-baidoa) Fighting erupted in Baidoa on August 17, when Bay Regional Hospital reported four deaths and 94 people wounded, and again on (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/3/somalia-repels-armed-assault-on-baidoa-amid-regional-political-tensions) September 3 , when 71 people were treated for injuries and one death was recorded.            aj-logo             aj-logo             aj-logo       Advertisement          About About   Show more  (https://www.aljazeera.com/about-us) About Us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/code-of-ethics/) Code of Ethics   (https://www.aljazeera.com/terms-and-conditions/) Terms and Conditions   (https://www.aljazeera.com/eu-eea-regulatory/) EU/EEA Regulatory Notice   (https://privacy.aljazeera.net/) Privacy Policy   (https://privacy.aljazeera.net/cookie/) Cookie Policy   (https://www.aljazeera.com/) Cookie Preferences    (https://trust.aljazeera.net/accessibility/) Accessibility Statement   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sitemap) Sitemap   (https://careers.aljazeera.net/) Work for us      Connect Connect   Show more  (https://network.aljazeera.net/en/contact?tid=6) Contact Us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/user-accounts-help) User Accounts Help   (https://commercial.aljazeera.net/) Advertise with us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/stay-connected) Stay Connected   (https://www.aljazeera.com/newsletters) Newsletters   (https://sat.aljazeera.net/en) Channel Finder   (https://www.aljazeera.com/schedule/) TV Schedule   (https://www.aljazeera.com/podcasts/) Podcasts   (https://webapps.aljazeera.net/aje/tips/) Submit a Tip   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sponsored) Paid Partner Content      Our Channels Our Channels   Show more  (http://aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Arabic   (https://www.aljazeera.com/) Al Jazeera English   (https://www.ajiunit.com/) Al Jazeera Investigative Unit   (https://www.aljazeeramubasher.net/) Al Jazeera Mubasher   (http://doc.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Documentary   (http://balkans.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Balkans   (http://ajplus.net/) AJ+      Our Network Our Network   Show more  (http://studies.aljazeera.net/en/) Al Jazeera Centre for Studies   (http://training.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Media Institute   (http://learning.aljazeera.net/) Learn Arabic   (http://liberties.aljazeera.com/en) Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights   (http://forum.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Forum   (https://hotels.aljazeera.net/en) Al Jazeera Hotel Partners        Follow Al Jazeera English: (https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera) facebook       (https://twitter.com/ajenglish) twitter     (https://www.youtube.com/aljazeeraenglish) youtube     (https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/?hl=en) instagram-colored-outline                          (https://www.aljazeera.com/xml/rss/all.xml) rss     (https://bsky.app/profile/aljazeera.com) bluesky     (https://www.tiktok.com/@aljazeeraenglish) tiktok-colored-outline                  (Al Jazeera Media Network logo)   © 2026 Al Jazeera Media Network