### [2026-09-28](/feed/2026/09/28/index.md) ##### Somali Civil War # Heavy fighting breaks out across the South West State of Somalia, as forces loyal to former president Abdiaziz Laftagareen launch a major armed assault on troops of Aden Madobe and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The assault starts with gunfire, explosive drones and a suicide vehicle bomb and spreads through the regional capital, Baidoa. ### Sources: 1. [Garowe Online](https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/heavy-fighting-erupts-in-somalia-s-baidoa-as-rival-south-west-forces-clash) 2. [Horseed Media](https://horseedmedia.net/somalia-heavy-fighting-reported-in-baidoa-as-rival-sides-claim-gains/425975/) 3. [Horseed Media](https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2026/Sep/206379/fighting_erupts_in_baidoa_town_after_laftagareen_forces_attack_federal_positions.aspx) ### Changes: 1. Heavy fighting is breaking out across South West State of Somalia, as forces loyal to former president Abdiaziz Laftagareen are launching a major armed assault on troops of Aden Madobe and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The assault is starting with gunfire, explosive drones and a suicide vehicle bomb and is spreading through the regional capital, Baidoa. _2026-09-28 10:10:22 (First version)_ 1. Heavy fighting breaks out across the South West State of Somalia, as forces loyal to former president Abdiaziz Laftagareen launch a major armed assault on troops of Aden Madobe and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The assault starts with gunfire, explosive drones and a suicide vehicle bomb and spreads through the regional capital, Baidoa. _(Current version)_ ### Related: 1. [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. ](/feed/2026/08/17/several-fighters-from-both-sides-are-killed-after-somali-federal-forces-and-opposition-groups-clash-in-the-south-west-st.md) _Context: Abdiaziz Laftagareen, Baidoa, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Somali Civil War, South West State of Somalia, former president_ 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 Civil War_ 3. [Casualties are reported with no exact number after heavy fighting breaks out on the outskirts of regional capital Baidoa between forces loyal to the federal government and troops aligned with South West State ousted president Abdiaziz Laftagareen. ](/feed/2026/05/21/casualties-are-reported-with-no-exact-number-after-heavy-fighting-breaks-out-on-the-outskirts-of-regional-capital-baidoa.md) _Context: Abdiaziz Laftagareen, Baidoa, Somali Civil War_ 4. [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 Civil War_ 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 of Somalia_ 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, South West State of Somalia_ 7. [Following the attack, over 100 Somali parliament members urge President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to resign, citing leadership failures amid worsening security and governance crises. ](/feed/2025/03/12/following-the-attack-over-100-somali-parliament-members-urge-president-hassan-sheikh-mohamud-to-resign-citing-leadersh.md) _Context: Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Somali Civil War_ 8. [Al Shabaab seizes the town of Cadale and some villages including Bushra Sheekh, Ceel Xarar and Xaruur, around 70 km of Mogadishu. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud asks Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for help. Ethiopia sends ten thousand ENDF troops near the Ethiopia–Somalia border. ](/feed/2025/03/8/al-shabaab-seizes-the-town-of-cadale-and-some-villages-including-bushra-sheekh-ceel-xarar-and-xaruur-around-70-km-of-m.md) _Context: Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Somali Civil War_ 9. [Al Shabaab militants carry out several attacks in Middle Shabelle, Hiiraan regions of Hirshabelle and Lower Shabelle region from South West State of Somalia. The group's main goal is to capture Mogadishu. ](/feed/2025/03/7/al-shabaab-militants-carry-out-several-attacks-in-middle-shabelle-hiiraan-regions-of-hirshabelle-and-lower-shabelle-reg.md) _Context: Somali Civil War, South West State of Somalia_ 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 Civil War_