The city of Baidoa, the interim capital of the South West State of Somalia, has been rocked by renewed fighting for a second day, with heavy weapons being used and clashes spreading to new neighborhoods in the city.
The spokesman for the South West State Presidency, Mohamed Ibrahim, said that the fighting in Baidoa is a security operation by the South West State forces against what he described as armed bandits who were a threat to public security and stability in the city.
newsinsideAlso, the Minister of Information for the South West State, Mohamed Bilal, who held a press conference in Baidoa, told the media that the operation is focused on chasing down what he called “bandit mobs” who were causing trouble for the people and were a threat to peace in the South West State areas.
Meanwhile, independent reports indicate that the South West State forces attacked the house of the Minister of Livestock, Forestry and Pasture of the Federal Government of Somalia, Hassan Elaay, in Baidoa this morning.
Reports indicate that the fighting was particularly intense around the minister’s residence, with heavy weapons being used.
Minister Hassan Elaay, in a telephone interview with Dalsan TV, said that forces loyal to the President of South West, Abdiasis Laftagareen, attacked his house, noting that his bodyguards resisted the attack.
He blamed President Laftagareen for the fighting, the resulting deaths and injuries, while there was also a communication blackout affecting the city.
The official number of casualties cannot yet be confirmed, as the security situation in Baidoa remains tense, and there are serious concerns about the impact of the fighting on civilians.
