Baidoa (WDN) – A spokesman for forces loyal to former South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen has dismissed the latest defections from the movement as insignificant, while Somalia’s Federal Government says the surrender of a senior commander and scores of fighters marks a major setback for the insurgency.
Speaking in a video statement, Ugaas Hassan Abdi, a former spokesman for the South West administration who now represents the Laftagareen-aligned movement, sought to minimize the impact of the reported defections.
“South West State is bigger than individuals who have been misled or those who have betrayed their own people,” he said. Despite the reported losses, Hassan insisted the movement remained intact and vowed that Laftagareen’s forces would continue their offensive until they captured Baidoa, the regional capital.
Ugaas Hassan
His remarks came after the group launched a series of attacks on Baidoa in recent weeks as part of its campaign against the South West State administration and Federal Government forces.
Meanwhile, Somalia’s Ministry of Defense announced what it described as a significant breakthrough, claiming that Ibrahim Kalaay, the former commissioner of Awdiinle district in Bay Region and a senior commander within the Laftagareen-aligned forces, had surrendered to government troops operating in South West State.
According to the ministry, Kalaay arrived in Baidoa accompanied by approximately 150 fighters, who handed over a cache of weapons and three armed military vehicles after renouncing the insurgency. The ministry said the group voluntarily abandoned the armed campaign, declaring they no longer wished to continue fighting against their own communities.
Government officials further stated that negotiations remain underway with additional fighters still aligned with the insurgency and expressed confidence that more defections could follow in the coming days.
In its statement, the Ministry of Defense described the surrender as a serious blow to the armed movement and reiterated that the Federal Government would not tolerate the use of illegal armed groups to undermine public security or political stability. The ministry also welcomed the former fighters’ decision, portraying it as recognition that continued conflict served neither the interests of local communities nor the country.
However, the claims made by the Federal Government regarding the number of defectors, weapons surrendered, and the broader impact on the insurgency have not been independently verified.
The conflict in South West State remains one of Somalia’s most volatile political and security flashpoints, driven by deep disagreements over regional leadership, political legitimacy, and relations between Mogadishu and the federal member states.
As both sides continue to claim victories and reaffirm their determination, the battle for influence in South West State shows little sign of ending, with the prospect of further military confrontations remaining high.
WardheerNews
