Somali federal government forces backed by allied regional militias have taken control of key installations after entering the city with minimal resistance, according to residents in Baidoa.
Witnesses said troops secured the central police station, major business centres and key intersections across the town on Monday.
Forces loyal to Abdi Aziz Hassan Mohamed (Laftagareen), the president of South West State, reportedly withdrew as the Forces advanced.
The whereabouts of Laftagareen are not publicly known. However, residents said his headquarters and Baidoa’s main airport remain under the control of troops from the African Union, primarily Forces from Ethiopia.
According to Mr. Ahmed Abdi, a local resident, said African Union forces have not intervened in the dispute between Somali sides.
The developments come after renewed fighting on the outskirts of the city.
Federal troops clashed twice in two days with militants from Al-Shabaab near Daynunay, a settlement outside Baidoa.
He said the militants were repelled, allowing government forces to continue their advance.
The seizure of Baidoa, a politically significant hub in Somalia, underscores mounting tensions between federal authorities and regional administrations, even as the country continues to face a persistent insurgency from al-Shabaab.
There has been no immediate official comment from federal or regional authorities.
Observers warn the situation could further strain Somalia’s fragile federal system if the standoff escalates.
