Somalia’s Baidoa Fighting Leaves 148 Wounded in Feud

Fighter jets and drones joined a day of Baidoa fighting on 28 September 2026. Forces of an ousted regional leader tried to retake the city from Somalia’s federal government.

Baidoa is the capital of South West State, one of the member states of Somalia’s federation. It lies inland from the capital, Mogadishu, in a region where aid agencies warn of possible famine.

The attack was the third round of fighting there in six weeks. It pits President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government against Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, the state leader his troops ousted in March.

Key Facts

RT

Ask Rio Times

17 years of Latin America reporting, on demand.

Ask

Open the full Ask Rio Times →

RTAsk Rio TimesCost of living, safety, visas across Latin America›

• The country. Somalia, in the Horn of Africa, has about 19.7 million people. Its economy is roughly US$13 billion (World Bank, 2025), about a third of Iceland’s.
• Why it matters. Somalia is a federation of semi-autonomous states. Several oppose President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and South West State has become the sharpest test.
• Why now. Federal troops took Baidoa, the state capital, in March and ousted its leader, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen. His fighters have attacked the city three times since 17 August.
• What happened. On Monday 28 September, thousands of pro-Laftagareen fighters attacked Baidoa. Fighter jets and drones were used, AFP reported; the army said it drove them out.
• The numbers. Doctors Without Borders recorded three deaths and 69 wounded at Bay Regional Hospital. The Red Cross later counted 148 wounded at four facilities.
• What it means for you. The US rates Somalia “Do Not Travel” and Britain advises against all travel to Baidoa. Aid groups warn the fighting deepens a hunger crisis.
• Still open. Who flew the jets has not been independently confirmed. Laftagareen’s forces remain outside the city while mediators prepare reconciliation talks.

How the Baidoa fighting unfolded

The assault began early on Monday 28 September. Local authorities said 2,000 to 3,000 fighters took part, AFP reported.

A senior army commander, Mohamed Ali, told AFP the attackers came from several directions with explosive-laden vehicles and explosive drones. “The national army confronted them, inflicted heavy casualties and drove them out of the city,” he said.

Laftagareen’s office called the attack a security operation to restore order and claimed heavy losses on the other side. Somali Guardian reported that his fighters entered parts of Baidoa before government forces regained control.

Fighter jets and drones were used during the clashes, according to AFP and Al Jazeera. A resident told AFP there were many explosions, but he did not know who was bombing.

Who flew the jets

Laftagareen’s office accused Turkey on 29 September of six missile strikes on civilian areas. It said civilians, including four children, were killed and blamed Turkish F-16 fighter jets.

Residents told AFP of missile strikes on the city’s outskirts, which they attributed to Turkish jets. Turkey is a key backer of Mohamud’s government and has deployed fighter jets in Somalia, AFP noted.

However, neither the aircraft involved nor responsibility for individual strikes has been independently established, Somali Guardian reported. No public response from Turkey to the accusation has been reported.

The human toll

Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which supports Baidoa’s Bay Regional Hospital, recorded three deaths and 69 wounded patients, including five children. It said a health worker was killed, an ambulance looted and a health facility severely damaged.

On 30 September, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said 148 wounded people had been treated at four hospitals. Its figure did not say how many were civilians or fighters, Hiiraan Online reported.

Death tolls vary widely and none has been independently confirmed. A federal lawmaker, Hassan Abdinor, told the German news agency dpa that at least 23 people were killed.

The South West State administration claimed more than 70 attacking fighters were killed, Dawan Africa reported. Earlier rounds on 17 August and 3 September left five dead and 165 wounded at the same hospital, MSF said.

The al-Shabaab accusation

Federal officials say al-Shabaab, the al-Qaeda-linked insurgency that holds much of rural southern Somalia, fought alongside Laftagareen’s men. Deputy Information Minister Abdirahman Yusuf made the claim to dpa.

A spokesperson for Laftagareen’s forces told AFP they had “no connection with Al-Shabaab”. Neither account has been independently verified.

Why the feud started

Laftagareen opposed Mohamud’s plan to replace clan-based indirect elections with a direct popular vote, AFP reported. Mohamud has also been criticised for extending his own mandate by a year.

Federal forces took control of Baidoa on 30 March 2026, according to Somali outlet FTL Somalia. The state is now run by a federal-backed administration led by Aden Mohamed Nur Madobe.

Since the attack: curfew and mediators

On 30 September, South West State’s security minister, Isaaq Mohamed Korsaa, imposed a curfew. People and vehicles may not move after the evening Maghrib prayer, Hiiraan Online reported.

On 1 October, a delegation led by former parliament speaker Mohamed Mursal Sheikh Abdirahman arrived in Baidoa. It is preparing a reconciliation conference, while Laftagareen’s forces remain on the city’s outskirts.

On Saturday 3 October, the South West cabinet met on security and reconciliation, Shabelle Media and the state news agency SONNA reported. No ceasefire has been announced, and no new fighting had been reported by Sunday 4 October.

The regional board

Mohamud met Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa on 29 September and Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh the next day. He then travelled to Egypt and met its leadership in El Alamein during an Africa business forum, Hiiraan Online reported.

Ethiopian troops in the African Union mission are based in and around Baidoa.

Bloomberg reported that Ethiopia plans to pull over 3,000 soldiers out of Somalia, FTL Somalia said. Addis Ababa has not confirmed this.

The British Embassy in Mogadishu urged all sides on 30 September to show restraint and settle differences through dialogue. It warned of a fragile humanitarian situation.

What it means for outsiders

For aid donors, the Baidoa fighting lands on a hunger emergency. On 23 September the IPC, the global hunger monitor, warned displaced people in southwest Somalia could face famine by year-end, Reuters reported.

For governments and investors, it shows how Somalia’s internal power struggle now draws in Turkey, Ethiopia and Egypt. That weakens the joint campaign against al-Shabaab.

What Is Not Known

There is no confirmed death toll from the Baidoa fighting on 28 September, and no independent confirmation of who flew the jets. It is unclear whether the reconciliation talks will open, or whether Laftagareen will join them.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Big Picture

Africa: The New Scramble — why the world’s powers are competing for the continent