### [2026-08-17](/feed/2026/08/17/index.md) ##### Somali Civil War # Several fighters from both sides are killed after Somali federal forces and opposition groups clash in the South West State. Two civilians are also killed. Militias loyal to former state president Abdiaziz Laftagareen enter the regional capital Baidoa, challenging two battalions of the Somali National Army loyal to Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. ### Sources: 1. [Garowe Online](https://garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/somalia-baidoa-erupts-in-heavy-fighting-as-laftagareen-forces-claim-to-seize-city) 2. [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/world/somalia-federal-troops-armed-opposition-clash-baidoa-city-2026-08-17/) 3. [i24 news](https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/africa/artc-somalia-federal-troops-armed-opposition-clash-in-baidoa-city-report) ### Changes: 1. Several fighters from both sides are killed after federal armed and troops opposition groups clash in South West State of Somalia. Two civilians are also killed. Militias loyal to former Southwest President Abdiaziz Laftagareen enter regional's capital city Baidoa, challenging two battalions of Somali National Army loyal to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The fighting is intensifying as federal forces are using heavy weapons. _2026-08-17 11:59:45 (First version)_ 2. Several fighters from both sides are killed after federal armed troops and opposition groups clash in South West State of Somalia. Two civilians are also killed. Militias loyal to former Southwest President Abdiaziz Laftagareen enter regional's capital city Baidoa, challenging two battalions of Somali National Army loyal to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The fighting is intensifying as federal forces are using heavy weapons. _2026-08-17 13:59:45 (Update)_ 2. Several fighters from both sides are killed after Somali federal forces and opposition groups clash in the South West State. Two civilians are also killed. Militias loyal to former state president Abdiaziz Laftagareen enter the regional capital Baidoa, challenging two battalions of the Somali National Army loyal to Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. _(Current version)_ ### Related: 1. [As clashes in Mogadishu that started yesterday continue, former prime minister Hassan Ali Khaire accuses "de facto" president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of ordering a targeted military assault to eliminate opposition, while defence minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi accuses both former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Khaire of orchestrating a coup attempt to destabilise Somalia. ](/feed/2026/06/4/as-clashes-in-mogadishu-that-started-yesterday-continue-former-prime-minister-hassan-ali-khaire-accuses-de-facto-pres.md) _Context: Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Somali, Somali Civil War, Somali president, federal forces_ 2. [At least eight people are killed during clashes between forces loyal to disputed Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and ousted South West State president Abdiaziz Laftagareen after they enter the regional capital Baidoa. ](/feed/2026/05/30/at-least-eight-people-are-killed-during-clashes-between-forces-loyal-to-disputed-somali-president-hassan-sheikh-mohamud.md) _Context: Abdiaziz Laftagareen, Baidoa, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Somali, Somali Civil War, Somali president_ 3. [Heavy fighting erupts in Baidoa between Somali federal government forces and troops loyal to former South West State president Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed, following disputes over regional elections and the end of president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's term tomorrow. Multiple sources confirm two senior Somali military officers from the 60th Division have been killed in a roadside ambush. ](/feed/2026/05/14/heavy-fighting-erupts-in-baidoa-between-somali-federal-government-forces-and-troops-loyal-to-former-south-west-state-pre.md) _Context: Baidoa, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Somali, Somali Civil War, Somali National Army, Somali president, federal forces_ 4. [United Kingdom and United States-mediated talks in Mogadishu, Somalia, between president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the opposition led by regional president Said Abdullahi Deni have broken down without an agreement. The deadlock centres on bitter disputes over the country's upcoming electoral framework, technical delays, and regional vote-rigging accusations in South West State of Somalia. ](/feed/2026/05/13/united-kingdom-and-united-states-mediated-talks-in-mogadishu-somalia-between-president-hassan-sheikh-mohamud-and-the-o.md) _Context: Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Somali, Somali president, South West State_ 5. [At least 10 people are killed, 25 others are injured and more than 45,000 displaced after Somalia's national army ​took control of Baidoa, the capital city of the South West state, two weeks after the state president Abdiaziz Laftagareen said that his administration was severing ties with the federal government and opposed constitutional amendments backed by the Somali federal government. ](/feed/2026/03/30/at-least-10-people-are-killed-25-others-are-injured-and-more-than-45000-displaced-after-somalia-s-national-army-took.md) _Context: Abdiaziz Laftagareen, Baidoa, Somali Civil War, South West State, federal forces_ 6. [The South West House of Representatives re-elects incumbent president Abdiaziz Laftagareen for the second time amid tensions with the Somali federal government that resulted in the military being deployed to the Lower Shabelle, Bay and Bakool regions of Somalia. ](/feed/2026/03/28/the-south-west-house-of-representatives-re-elects-incumbent-president-abdiaziz-laftagareen-for-the-second-time-amid-tens.md) _Context: Abdiaziz Laftagareen, Somali, South West State, federal forces_ 7. [At least ten people are killed and 20 others are injured in an assassination attempt by Al-Shabaab militants targeting Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud near Villa Somalia on the road to Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia. ](/feed/2025/03/18/at-least-ten-people-are-killed-and-20-others-are-injured-in-an-assassination-attempt-by-al-shabaab-militants-targeting-s.md) _Context: Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Somali, Somali Civil War_ 8. [Al-Shabaab launches a coordinated attack on four Somali military bases in Middle Shabelle, Somalia, killing and wounding dozens of soldiers. Somali authorities say they repelled the attack, killing at least 130 militant fighters. ](/feed/2025/02/20/al-shabaab-launches-a-coordinated-attack-on-four-somali-military-bases-in-middle-shabelle-somalia-killing-and-wounding.md) _Context: Somali, Somali Civil War, Somali National Army, federal forces_ 9. [The Somali National Army, supported by local Ma'awisley clan militias, kills dozens of al-Shabaab insurgents during heavy clashes which erupted after allied forces launch an offensive targeting al-Shabaab stronghold positions in the Jicibow area of Shebelle River, Hiiraan, Somalia. ](/feed/2025/02/7/the-somali-national-army-supported-by-local-ma-awisley-clan-militias-kills-dozens-of-al-shabaab-insurgents-during-heav.md) _Context: Somali, Somali Civil War, Somali National Army_ 10. [Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre escape after security guards shoot down one of two drones hovering over Villa Somalia in Mogadishu, Somalia. The drones are believed to be used by ISIL and Al-Shabaab. This comes after previous Somali Civil Aviation Authority warnings. ](/feed/2025/01/31/somali-president-hassan-sheikh-mohamud-and-prime-minister-hamza-abdi-barre-escape-after-security-guards-shoot-down-one-o.md) _Context: Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Somali, Somali Civil War, Somali president_