Somalia accuses Southwest state leader of jihadist links as forces near Baidoa

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s federal government on Sunday accused Southwest State President Abdiasis Laftagaren and parliamentary speaker Ali Saeed Fiqi of maintaining direct links with the militant group Al-Shabaab, as federal forces advanced toward the strategic town of Baidoa with reported Turkish air support aimed at unseating the regional administration.

In a statement, the Ministry of Information said Laftagaren’s administration was implementing an agreement with militants and spreading disinformation intended to undermine international partners, in what Mogadishu implied was a reference to Turkey. The government did not provide evidence to support the allegations. Only weeks ago, Laftagaren had served as deputy chairman of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s Justice and Solidarity Party before the two fell out.

The accusations came hours after Southwest State authorities said Turkey was directly involved in a federal offensive designed to remove the regional leadership by force. They urged Ankara to step back and avoid becoming entangled in Somalia’s internal conflict, and said Turkish drone strikes near Baidoa had caused civilian casualties.

Clashes erupted early on Sunday when federal forces advancing on Baidoa were ambushed by Al-Shabaab militants near Daynuunaay, about 22 km northeast of the interim capital, according to local media. The forces were pushed back toward Burhakabo, where they had previously assembled.

Air strikes later hit Daynuunaay and surrounding areas, local media reported, in what was described as an attempt to support federal troops and allied militias in resuming their advance.

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The Somali government said about 20 Al-Shabaab fighters were killed in the clashes. The insurgents said they had killed 15 soldiers, wounded more than 20 others and destroyed military vehicles. Neither side provided evidence for the claims.

Residents in Baidoa, the seat of Southwest State, reported growing fear that fighting could erupt in the town, a day after Laftagaren secured a second term in a vote rejected by the federal government.

Ethiopia, whose troops are deployed across much of Southwest State, has sent reinforcements to Baidoa to bolster defences, according to regional sources. Ethiopian forces have so far remained neutral, but it remains unclear whether they would intervene if federal troops enter the town, where some of their largest bases in southern Somalia are located.

Turkey’s role has drawn increasing scrutiny. A longstanding partner in Somalia’s campaign against Islamist insurgents, Ankara has in recent years expanded its influence in both the economy and political sphere through agreements with Mogadishu covering offshore oil and the blue economy. Critics say details of those deals have not been made public or subjected to parliamentary oversight.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is seeking to install Ports Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, widely known as “Jama”, in Southwest State, according to political sources. Nur, who is often referred to by Somalis as the “TikToker Minister” for his strong presence on social media platform TikTok, is described by some Somali politicians as closely aligned with Turkey, a characterisation they link to his frequent visits to Ankara and meetings with Turkish officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Some Somali politicians and former leaders have warned against a battle in Baidoa, one of the largest towns in southern Somalia, where nearly half the population consists of internally displaced people.

International partners, including the United Nations, the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), have called for restraint and urged both sides to resolve their differences through dialogue. Efforts by diplomats and Somali elders to ease tensions have so far made little progress.

On Saturday, President Mohamud accused Laftagaren of reneging on an agreement to pursue universal suffrage elections, saying his government would press ahead with the plan even if voting could only take place in parts of the country. Critics say such elections are not feasible at present due to insecurity, limited government control and the approaching end of federal mandates.

Laftagaren denied any such agreement and said he had been coerced.

The standoff comes amid a broader political crisis. Somalia’s federal government has introduced a new constitution, but Puntland, Jubaland and Southwest State have rejected it, saying they will continue to recognise the 2012 provisional charter.

Disagreement also persists over election timelines. Parliamentary Speaker Adan Madobe has said the mandates of parliament and the presidency have been extended by one year under the new constitution. Opponents describe the move as a power grab and warn it could lead to the formation of a parallel government if no agreement is reached before the current terms expire.

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