Renewed clashes erupt in southwestern Somalia between government and militias
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Renewed fighting erupted early Thursday between government forces and militias on the outskirts of Somalia’s southwestern city of Baidoa, with reports of heavy gunfire and civilians…
Renewed clashes erupted on Thursday between government forces and militias on the outskirts of Baidoa, a major humanitarian hub in southwestern Somalia. The fighting, which began early in the day, involved government forces responding to an attack by fighters loyal to former South West state President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen and the al-Qaida-linked extremist group al-Shabab.
The clashes are the latest escalation in a political and security dispute between Somalia’s federal government and Laftagareen over control of South West state. Federal forces took control of Baidoa on March 30, after which Laftagareen resigned. The fighting stopped in the early afternoon, with 24 wounded and one dead civilian reported by the emergency department at Bay Regional Hospital in Baidoa.
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Also reported by 1 other outlet
- Renewed clashes erupt in southwestern Somalia between government and militias winnipegfreepress.com
