Federal Government Orders Fresh Troops to Baidoa to Push Back Laftagareen Forces

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud instructed the Somali National Army on September 9, 2026 to reinforce federal troops already stationed in and around Baidoa and prepare an operation to drive opposition fighters loyal to former Southwest State president Laftagareen away from positions used to stage repeated attacks on the city. The order followed a phone call between Mohamud and Southwest State's current leader, Adan Mohamed Nur (Adan Madobe), and comes after opposition forces attacked Baidoa multiple times over the preceding three weeks, including the September 3 clash that wounded 71 and killed one civilian. As of September 9, the operation had not yet begun; the report did not disclose additional casualty figures.