Federal Forces Seize Control of Baidoa as Regional Leader Resigns
Mogadishu, 31 March 2026
Somalia’s national army captured Baidoa, the largest city in South West state, on Monday, forcing regional president Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen to resign just weeks after severing ties with the federal government. The strategic takeover of this administrative capital, home to international peacekeepers and humanitarian agencies, has left the city resembling a ‘ghost town’ according to local residents. This dramatic power shift occurs amid ongoing constitutional disputes and represents the latest fracture in Somalia’s fragile federal system, where tensions between Mogadishu and regional authorities continue to create political instability throughout the Horn of Africa nation.
Military Takeover Follows Political Crisis
This latest development follows the African Union’s urgent appeal for restraint as Somalia faces an escalating political crisis that began when South West state severed ties with the federal government. The national army’s seizure of Baidoa on Monday, 30 March 2026, represents a decisive federal response to regional defiance [1]. The strategic importance of Baidoa, located approximately 245 kilometres northwest of Mogadishu, cannot be overstated as it serves as the administrative capital and houses international peacekeepers and humanitarian agencies in an area severely affected by drought, conflict and displacement [1]. Local elder Adan Hussein described the aftermath to Reuters, stating that “Federal forces have taken over Baidoa, … it is now calm … but it looks like a ghost town” [1].
Regional Leader’s Swift Resignation
The federal takeover prompted immediate political consequences, with South West state president Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen announcing his resignation through a Facebook statement just days after being re-elected for another five-year term [1]. This resignation came exactly two weeks after his administration declared it was severing ties with the federal government, highlighting the rapid escalation of tensions between regional and federal authorities [1]. Shopkeeper Hussein Abdullahi confirmed the federal military presence, telling Reuters that federal troops were in control of his section of the city [1]. The timing of these events demonstrates the federal government’s determination to reassert control over breakaway regions, particularly those challenging constitutional amendments backed by Mogadishu [1].
Humanitarian Impact and Mass Displacement
The military confrontation has created significant humanitarian concerns, with many residents fleeing Baidoa over the past week as tensions escalated [1]. Several aid agencies suspended their activities in anticipation of potential clashes between federal army units and regional forces, further complicating assistance efforts in a region already struggling with drought and displacement [1]. This disruption of humanitarian operations could have severe implications for vulnerable populations, including internally displaced persons who rely on international assistance. The federal government’s information ministry defended the military action through national television, claiming that federal forces had been “welcomed in Baidoa on Monday” and characterising the “former South West state administration” as having “created political conflict” [1].
Broader Federal System Challenges
The Baidoa takeover represents the latest manifestation of strain within Somalia’s fragile federal system, where disputes over elections and the balance of power between Mogadishu and regional administrations repeatedly expose deep political fault lines [1]. Laftagareen’s administration had specifically opposed constitutional amendments backed by the federal government, creating an irreconcilable conflict that ultimately led to the current military intervention [1]. The federal government has also alleged connections between former regional leaders and Al-Shabaab militants, with official statements claiming that Laftagareen and former parliamentary speaker Ali Saciid Faqi maintain direct contact with the terrorist group [2]. These accusations suggest the federal government views regional resistance not merely as political opposition but as a security threat requiring military action [2].