Laftagareen calls on Turkey to stop airstrikes in South West

Baydhabo — The former President of the South West State, Abdicasis Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, has called on the Turkish government to immediately cease all aerial operations which he accused of being against the civilian population in the South West regions, and to respect the sovereignty of Somalia.

A press release issued by Laftagareen stated that airstrikes carried out by Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones and F-16 fighter jets have caused damage in the regions of Bay and Bakool, particularly in the towns of Wajid and Baydhabo.

The press release indicated that these airstrikes have resulted in deaths and injuries to civilians, as well as the destruction of homes, livestock, and farmland. He added that traditional elders and regional administrations have confirmed the losses suffered by the people.

Laftagareen argued that these operations are not limited to the fight against Al-Shabaab, but described them as a campaign targeting civilians and the areas they inhabit, which he linked to the political conflict between the federal government and the opposition. He also mentioned the reported attempt to assassinate General Shub in Doolow, describing that incident as part of the security and political situation in the country.

The press release also criticized the relationship between the federal government and Turkey, accusing them of having agreements related to Somalia's fishing resources, oil, and gas. Laftagareen accused the Turkish government of having special interests in the country's resources and called on the Somali people to resist what he described as foreign interference and the plundering of national resources.

Laftagareen specifically accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Minister of Defense Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, and the Turkish government, claiming they are responsible for attacks alleged to have harmed civilians in South West.

He stated that targeting civilians, if confirmed, contradicts international humanitarian law, including the protections set forth by the Geneva Conventions, and could constitute a war crime as outlined in Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

He called for an independent investigation to verify the allegations related to the airstrikes and to determine who is responsible for the reported casualties. Additionally, Laftagareen questioned the political legitimacy of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, arguing that his term ended on May 15, 2026, and that he opposed the use of foreign power within Somalia.

Laftagareen has called on the United Nations, African Union, European Union, United States, and international partners of Somalia to use their diplomatic influence to stop the operations he warned against, and to ensure the protection of civilians. He also urged the leaders of the federal member states and opposition groups to discuss what he described as Turkey's interference in Somalia's internal affairs.

On the other hand, he called on human rights organizations and local and international media to document the reported incidents and the resulting casualties, in order to obtain independent information to assess the allegations presented.

Laftagareen concluded his press release by stating that military force from abroad cannot resolve the political conflicts in Somalia, emphasizing that the people of South West will not accept oppression and silence imposed by military power. Allegations regarding airstrikes, civilian casualties, Turkey's role, and the responsibility of appointed leaders are presented in Laftagareen's position. Independent information verifying those allegations is not included in the provided text.