Sunday April 5, 2026
Baidoa (HOL) — The commander of the Somali National Army on Friday promoted soldiers who took part in the operation to reopen the strategic road linking Mogadishu and Baidoa, hailing the offensive as a major blow to al-Shabab and a turning point for civilian mobility.
Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Mohamed Mahmoud commended the troops for their role in securing the corridor, which had been under intermittent blockade by al-Qaida-linked militants since 2009.
He said the victory had ended years of hardship for civilians who faced extortion, insecurity and deadly attacks while traveling between the capital and the Southwest regional hub.
The government previously announced that the road had been reopened following intense fighting in the Daynuunay area of Bay region, where security forces said they inflicted significant losses on militants who had long disrupted traffic along the route.
Mahmoud urged troops to consolidate gains in newly secured areas and continue pursuing fighters who fled during the operation.
The road’s reopening is seen as economically and strategically significant. The Mogadishu–Baidoa corridor is a key artery for trade, humanitarian deliveries and government administration in Southwest State.
However, the military operation unfolded alongside political upheaval in the region. Federal forces involved in the road offensive also entered Baidoa after heavy clashes with Southwest regional forces, a confrontation that culminated in the resignation of Southwest President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen.
The federal government has framed the intervention as necessary to restore stability and advance security operations. Opposition politicians, however, have criticized the promotion of troops linked to the takeover of Baidoa, arguing that the events reflect a broader political dispute between Mogadishu and regional authorities.
The developments underscore the complex overlap between security operations against al-Shabab and ongoing tensions over federal–regional power dynamics, as Somalia navigates both counterterrorism efforts and constitutional disputes within its evolving federal system.
