Somali army clashes with rebel forces for control of key city Baidoa
Summary
Somalia’s army said it pushed rebel fighters out of Baidoa after heavy fighting. The clashes started when forces loyal to former South West State president Laftagareen attacked federal army positions in the city.Key Facts
- Fighting began early Monday when Laftagareen’s forces attacked federal troops in Baidoa.
- The attackers used vehicles with explosives but were stopped after 30 of them were killed.
- The government accuses Laftagareen’s fighters of working with the al-Qaeda-linked group al-Shabab.
- Laftagareen’s side claimed it had taken control of the city center, but the army denied this.
- Baidoa is the biggest city in South West State and has many people displaced by war and climate problems.
- Laftagareen led South West State for over seven years but broke ties with the federal government in March over constitutional changes.
- The constitutional changes extended President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term and changed Somalia’s power-sharing system.
- The fighting and instability are making a humanitarian crisis worse, with many people facing hunger and famine.
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