Somalia: Laftagareen accuses Türkiye of six airstrikes on Baidoa

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Former South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen has accused Somalia’s federal government and Türkiye of carrying out airstrikes on Baidoa during fierce fighting between his forces and troops loyal to the government, alleging that six missiles struck areas where civilians were present.

Laftagareen’s office said the alleged strikes killed civilians, including four children, and damaged civilian property. It also accused Turkish F-16 fighter jets of taking part in the bombardment.

The allegations could not be independently verified, and neither the identity of the aircraft involved nor responsibility for individual strikes has been independently established.

The accusations came a day after Laftagareen-aligned forces launched a major assault on Baidoa, the administrative capital of Somalia’s South West State, in the latest and most serious escalation of a months-long political and military confrontation over control of the region.

Heavy fighting erupted early Monday and continued for hours across several parts of the city. Local residents reported explosions, sustained gunfire and difficulty reaching medical facilities as rival forces fought for control of strategic positions.

Laftagareen says forces entered Baidoa

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Laftagareen’s office described the offensive as a security operation intended to restore order in Baidoa and remove federal-aligned forces from the city.

His forces, it said, fought troops it referred to as “Salbalaar” and “Afbalaar” – terms used by Laftagareen’s camp in describing forces it regards as having entered and taken control of parts of South West State.

The statement claimed that Laftagareen-aligned Darawish forces inflicted heavy losses on opposing troops but did not provide casualty figures.

The account could not be independently verified.

Reports from the region indicate that fighters loyal to Laftagareen did enter parts of Baidoa during Monday’s fighting before government forces regained control of the city. The competing sides subsequently claimed success, making it difficult to independently establish the extent of territorial gains during the battle.

Six missiles alleged to have hit civilian areas

The most serious allegation in Laftagareen’s latest statement concerns the reported airstrikes.

His office said six missiles were fired at Baidoa and accused Turkish F-16 aircraft of carrying out the strikes. It said civilians were among those killed and alleged that civilian property was destroyed.

The statement did not provide independently verifiable evidence identifying the aircraft or establishing the chain of command behind the alleged attacks.

Independent reports from Baidoa confirmed that aircraft and drones were seen during Monday’s fighting, but did not establish that Turkish F-16s carried out the strikes alleged by Laftagareen. AFP also reported that residents heard explosions but could not determine who was responsible for the bombing.

Laftagareen’s office has made similar accusations against Türkiye following earlier fighting in Baidoa. After clashes on Sept. 3, his political camp accused Türkiye of conducting F-16 strikes against forces loyal to him.

What happened in Baidoa

Monday’s fighting began early in the morning, with explosions reported near military positions before clashes spread into the city.

The South West administration and Laftagareen’s camp offered sharply different accounts of the assault.

Laftagareen’s supporters said their forces had launched an operation to restore security and order and claimed significant gains inside Baidoa.

The South West administration, led by President Adan Mohamed Nur Madobe, said government forces had repelled an attack and restored security. Its spokesperson accused Laftagareen-aligned fighters of working with Al-Shabab, while Laftagareen’s camp has rejected allegations that its forces are cooperating with the militant group.

The competing accounts could not be independently reconciled.

The fighting nevertheless had a clear civilian cost.

Local media reported that medical teams at Bay Regional Hospital received 69 patients affected by the violence, including five children. Doctors Without Borders said three people had died, including a healthcare worker, and warned that blocked roads were preventing some wounded people from reaching medical care.

Baidoa has become the centre of a wider political struggle

The battle for Baidoa is rooted in a political dispute that has steadily evolved into an armed confrontation.

Federal forces seized control of Baidoa in March after tensions between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government and Laftagareen’s administration escalated over political authority, elections and constitutional changes. Laftagareen subsequently left office, while Adan Madobe became president of South West State.

Laftagareen and his supporters have rejected the political transition and continued to claim authority in South West State.

Since then, Baidoa has experienced repeated clashes.

The repeated violence has raised concerns that a political dispute between Mogadishu and South West State could increasingly divert Somali security forces from their fight against Al-Shabaab and expose civilians to further conflict.

Türkiye’s expanding security role under scrutiny

The allegations against Türkiye come as Ankara maintains a close defence relationship with Somalia.

Türkiye has provided military training and security assistance to Somalia for years, including through the TURKSOM military training facility in Mogadishu.

Somalia’s Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi met a Turkish military delegation in Mogadishu in September and publicly thanked Türkiye for its support in rebuilding Somalia’s armed forces and strengthening the country’s security capabilities.

Türkiye’s own foreign ministry describes its relationship with Somalia as encompassing security, development and humanitarian cooperation, with Ankara having maintained a significant diplomatic and development presence in the country since the early 2010s.

That partnership has become increasingly sensitive as fighting between Somalia’s federal authorities and regional political forces has intensified.

For Laftagareen’s camp, alleged Turkish military involvement represents foreign intervention in a domestic political dispute.

For Mogadishu, Türkiye remains an important security partner as the federal government attempts to strengthen national institutions and combat armed groups.

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