Southwest State President Abdiaziz Laftagareen has accused Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of deploying heavy weapons, including those donated by Egypt for counterterrorism, to fuel ethnic tensions and political unrest in Baidoa and surrounding areas.
In a statement issued from Baidoa, President Laftagareen warned that recent military actions threaten to escalate into full-scale civil conflict and a severe humanitarian crisis. According to the statement, Somali National Army units—many trained and funded by international partners such as Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States—are increasingly being used for internal political purposes rather than their stated counterterrorism mandate.
Laftagareen further charged that troops drawn predominantly from President Hassan Sheikh’s clan are being deployed against the people of Southwest State, raising fears of a sectarianized military campaign. Heavy and light weapons, initially provided by Egypt to fight Al Shabab, are reportedly being diverted to enforce political objectives in Baidoa, Lower Shabelle, and Bakool regions, areas already partially under insurgent control.
The Southwest State leader accused the Federal Government of attempting to weaken the federal system, including moves to detach Lower Shabelle, while asserting direct control over lucrative oil and gas concessions with Türkiye. He described these actions as a calculated politicization of national resources at the expense of civilian safety.
Civilians are already fleeing Baidoa amid reports of intensified military operations. Local authorities warn that without urgent intervention, the escalating conflict could trigger massive displacement in a region suffering prolonged drought, compounding a looming humanitarian catastrophe.
President Laftagareen called on the international community to intervene immediately to prevent further escalation, protect civilians, and ensure that foreign support is not misused to fuel internal political conflicts.
“Somalia cannot afford to allow political disputes to be settled with guns while the people pay the price,” Laftagareen said. “Immediate action is essential to preserve the federal system and prevent the country from sliding into chaos.”