MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s federal government has lost all major towns in Bay region except Baidoa to forces of former Southwest leader Abdiasis Laftagaren, in a speedy counter-offensive that has unexpectedly reversed the gains it made in an offensive in March, when it toppled him as regional president.
Laftagaren’s forces seized Burhakabo, Dinsor, Berdale and Awdinle towns on Thursday and Friday, days after taking the town of Qansah-dhere, leaving Baidoa as the only town in the region still under the federal government.
Laftagaren, who regards himself as the legitimate regional president and still maintains his cabinet and other regional officials, praised his forces for their success on the ground.
Although he left Somalia after being toppled in March and made his home in Kenya, his Darwish forces launched guerrilla warfare against the federal forces that captured most of the region, carrying out dozens of attacks across Bay region.
Many other towns in Southwest State, including Baidoa itself and Wajid, are feared to fall in the coming days and weeks. Reports say there are negotiations to hand over Baidoa to Laftagaren’s forces, but there is no independent confirmation.
Laftagaren said on Thursday that Turkish F-16 fighter jets have continued pounding areas near Baidoa and other parts of Southwest State since March, killing many civilians and destroying property.
The regional government that the federal government installed in Baidoa under Adan Madobe, after toppling Laftagaren with Turkish air support, appears to be taking a heavy beating and falling gradually under the lightning-speed blows of the former regional administration’s forces.
Somalia’s crisis is getting out of control. The federal president has extended his term, and regional states and the opposition are at odds with him over delayed elections and his refusal to engage them in talks on the deadlock over the upcoming elections, including the timetable, how they will be held and everything else.
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