Heavy fighting shook Baidoa, the capital of Somalia's Bay region, at dawn on Monday, September 28, with local sources reporting intense gunfire, heavy weapons, and explosions across several parts of the city. Video from the scene shows dense black smoke rising over streets and buildings, with a military pickup truck visible as civilians stayed indoors. Forces loyal to former South West State president Abdiaziz Laftagareen said they attacked positions held by troops loyal to the current South West administration. Kaab TV reported clashes on multiple fronts, including around the Afar-Irdo junction, and said a food warehouse near the headquarters of the army's 60th Division was set ablaze. The RP Hotel was also heavily damaged in what preliminary reports describe as a vehicle-borne explosive attack, with unverified reports that hotel staff were killed or wounded.

The two sides are telling very different stories. The South West administration and Somalia's national army say al-Shabaab fighters and Laftagareen loyalists launched a joint assault that was repelled, and the army says it remains in control of the city, while Laftagareen's camp claims gains and says it destroyed a Turkish-supplied armored vehicle. No independent casualty figure is available, though preliminary reports point to significant deaths and injuries, and I could not confirm a power station attack. The clashes stem from a bitter struggle over who controls South West State, and similar fighting broke out in Baidoa in mid-August when federal forces moved into the city. With Baidoa hosting a large displaced population, there are fears that a prolonged battle could worsen the humanitarian situation and pull attention away from operations against al-Shabaab.