Somali Lawmakers Back Laftagareen as Baidoa Crisis Deepens

MOGADISHU—Several members of Somalia’s House of the People have publicly voiced their support for former South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, following renewed clashes in Baidoa between forces loyal to him and forces aligned with the Federal Government.

The lawmakers, who represent constituencies in South West State, defended Laftagareen and his supporters while accusing the federal government of contributing to the escalating political and security tensions in the region.

Aadan Laftagareen, a member of parliament and brother of the former South West State president, rejected allegations that his brother and his forces were linked to terrorism. He said Laftagareen was defending what he described as the rights and interests of the people of South West State.

Aadan also disputed reports that Laftagareen’s forces had used aircraft during the latest fighting in Baidoa. He instead accused other lawmakers from South West State of contributing to the escalation.

“The forces that attacked the city were South West State forces that had previously been attacked and later returned,” Aadan said, without providing evidence to support his account.

Another South West State lawmaker, Mohamed Hassan Mohamed Murjaan, described forces loyal to Laftagareen as “fighters for justice” and said they were seeking to reclaim their territory and restore what he referred to as the legitimate constitutional order.

“I have not seen an area attacked by Al-Shabaab,” Murjaan said, while claiming that civilians were being affected by the fighting. He also referred to reports that F-16 fighter jets had been deployed, a claim that could not be independently verified.

Maryan Moallin, a lawmaker representing Baidoa, similarly rejected claims that the clashes were linked to an Al-Shabaab assault. She described the conflict as part of a broader effort to undermine the political and institutional standing of South West State.

“We have not seen terrorists,” Maryan said, accusing those making such claims of contributing to what she described as the destabilization of South West State.

The lawmakers’ statements come amid escalating tensions between federal authorities, South West State officials and supporters of Laftagareen. The competing accounts of the fighting, including claims concerning the identity of the forces involved and the alleged use of military aircraft, remain unverified.