Federal Government Airlifts Additional Troops to Baidoa Amid Growing Threat from Laftagareen Loyalists

Somalia's federal government airlifted additional troops into Baidoa on or around August 29, 2026 to protect South West State leader Sheikh Aadan Mohamed Nur Madobe and government facilities, citing a persistent threat from fighters loyal to former Southwest State president Laftagareen following the August 17 VBIED assault on the city. Garowe Online reported the reinforcement came as the AU has authorized AUSSOM to fight Al-Shabaab while barring it from taking sides in the Baidoa political standoff (see Aug 28 memo), leaving the federal government to rely on its own SNA units to secure South West State's capital. Unit numbers and composition were not disclosed.