Somalia’s government loses Burhakabo to ousted Southwest leader’s forces

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Forces loyal to Somalia’s former Southwest State president, Abdiasis Laftagaren, seized another strategic town in Bay region on Thursday, deepening the federal government’s territorial losses.

The assault on Burhakabo began early in the day. The town lies on the road linking Mogadishu and Baidoa, the Bay region’s administrative capital, 64 km to the east.

A brief gunfight preceded the town’s fall, after which forces loyal to the former regional leaders took full control.

It was not immediately clear whether there were any casualties, although there were reports of injuries on both sides.

Ministers of the ousted Southwest State administration visited Burhakabo shortly after its fall. They had been part of the former regional Darwish forces, which have waged guerrilla warfare against federal forces in the region since Laftagaren’s ouster in March.

Laftagaren’s side displayed dozens of federal troops captured in the town. The federal government and its allied new administration in the region have not commented so far.

The capture came days after the government lost the town of Qansah-dhere. Analysts say this is an early sign that the federal government is gradually losing the war it launched to dominate the federal member state completely. After ousting Laftagaren and his administration, it installed a loyal administration that has so far failed to find its footing, win local support or build security institutions able to keep Laftagaren’s forces away from Baidoa and other major towns in the region.

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