Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
· collected 2026-09-03 · by Al Jazeera Staff
Somalia's military has repelled an attack by two armed groups in Baidoa, the largest city in South West State, early on Thursday morning. The attackers were loyal to ousted Governor Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, who opposes President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's attempts to hold democratic elections. According to the Defence Ministry, the army inflicted a heavy defeat on the attackers and is investigating the number of fighters killed. Witnesses reported hearing gunfire and explosions in different parts of the town for several hours before it calmed down.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-03,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Somalia's Defence Ministry says its military repelled an attack by two armed groups in Baidoa, the largest city in Somalia's South West State. The ministry claims that "militias" loyal to ousted Governor Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen launched the attack early on Thursday morning, with explosives intended to terrorize civilians. However, the military responded and allegedly inflicted a heavy defeat on the attackers. This incident is part of ongoing regional political tensions in Somalia, where several states are opposed to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who faces a rebellion by the armed group al-Shabab** that controls large parts of central Somalia. The government had previously sent troops to oust Laftagareen in March, and he made a failed attempt to retake the state in May, with his forces fighting federal forces for control of Baidoa in August.
Written for “Conflict in Somalia's South” on 2026-09-03,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
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stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score +0.35 for article 3501 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-03
Somalia’s military says it has repelled an attack by two armed groups in Baidoa, the largest city in Somalia’s South West State.
asserted
it → say → State
In a statement posted on X, Somalia’s Defence Ministry said “militias” loyal to ousted Governor Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen launched the attack early on Thursday morning.
asserted
militias → post → morning
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asserted
Shabab → seize → ambush
“The attack began with explosions intended to terrorise civilians, but the army said it responded bravely and inflicted a heavy defeat on the attackers,” the ministry said in a statement.
asserted
ministry → begin → statement
Several states in the deeply fragmented country are opposed to control by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who also faces a long-running rebellion by the armed group al-Shabab, which controls vast swathes of central Somalia.
asserted
which → fragment → Somalia
In March, the government sent in troops to oust Laftagareen.
asserted
government → send → Laftagareen
He launched a failed attempt to retake the state in May, and in August his forces fought federal forces for control of Baidoa.
uncertain
forces → launch → Baidoa
The fighting on Thursday lasted for several hours.
asserted
fighting → last → hours
Witnesses told AFP that gunfire and explosions could be heard in different parts of the town, forcing residents to remain indoors.
uncertain
gunfire → tell → residents
A spokesperson for the pro-Laftagareen forces told AFP that they had captured parts of the city and that fighting was ongoing.
asserted
fighting → tell → city
However, several residents told AFP that Baidoa was calm after six hours of battles.
asserted
Baidoa → tell → battles
The Defence Ministry said it was investigating the number of fighters killed during the attack and would release details “once the assessment has been completed”.
asserted
assessment → say → details
The ministry also accused the armed groups of operating alongside “al-Shabab terrorists”.
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ministry → accuse → terrorists
Laftagareen was among the opponents of President Mohamud’s attempts to move Somalia towards democratic elections, replacing a system based around clan elders.
asserted
Laftagareen → move → elders
