Somalia’s Federal Army Takes Control of Baidoa as Southwest State Leader Resigns

Somalia’s national army has seized control of Baidoa, the largest city in the Southwest state, prompting the resignation of the regional president, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, two weeks after his administration declared a break with the federal government. Laftagareen, who had served for over seven years and was recently re-elected for another term in a vote deemed illegal by Mogadishu, announced his resignation via Facebook on March 30.

Following the takeover, Ahmed Mohamed Hussein, the state’s finance minister, was appointed acting president. The federal government hailed the transition, calling for calm and unity, and stressed that no acts of retaliation would be tolerated. Local sources described Baidoa as calm but largely deserted, with many residents having fled amid fears of clashes between federal and regional forces.

The takeover highlights ongoing tensions in Somalia’s fragile federal system, as disputes over elections and constitutional amendments have fueled mistrust between the central government and regional administrations ahead of the country’s national elections later this year.

Written by Adeyemi Adewale