Somali army takes over key city in Southwest as state leader resigns

Somalia’s federal government hails Baidoa’s transition, urging peace and unity amid political changes and rising tensions.Somalia’s national army has taken control of the biggest city in Southwest State, prompting the ⁠regional leader to resign two weeks after his administration said it was severing ties with the federal government.The strategic city of ⁠Baidoa, the largest in Southwest State, is home to international peacekeepers and humanitarian agencies in an area affected by drought, conflict and displacement.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Is the UK playing a double game in Sudan and Somalia?list 2 of 3Foreign influence & Somalia’s fight for unitylist 3 of 3Sharp rise in malnutrition cases, preventable diseases in Somalia: MSFend of list“I, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, effective today, 30 March 2026, have resigned from the position of President of Southwest State,” Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen said in a post on Facebook on Monday.He had been in office for more than seven years. His resignation comes days after he was re-elected for another five-year term, an election the federal government said was illegal.Earlier on Monday, Somalia’s federal forces entered Baidoa, which is about 245 km (150 miles) northwest of the country’s capital, Mogadishu, taking full control of the city and marking the start of a political transition.“Federal forces have taken over Baidoa … it is now calm … but ‌it looks like a ghost town,” local elder Adan Hussein told the Reuters news agency.Southwest’s transition began as its finance minister, Ahmed Mohamed Hussein, was appointed acting president through a formal decree.The central government in Mogadishu hailed the state’s transition and urged calm and unity.“The people of the Southwest State have taken control of Baidoa, signalling demand for accountability. The Federal Government of Somalia remains committed to stability, protecting lives and property, and ensuring no persecution or retaliation,” Somali Information Minister Daud Aweis said in a statement.