Somalia's Army Seizes Baidoa, Escalating Regional Tensions

0:00On March 30, Somalia's National Army has seized control of much of Baidoa, the main city in southwest state. This comes two weeks after local leaders, their cut ties with the federal government in Mogadishu. Baidoa serves as a hub for international aid groups and peacekeepers in a drought-hit zone full of conflict and displaced folks. Earlier this week, the Army pushed in during operations against al-Shabaab militants on the city's edges. Regional forces reportedly clashed with them, but the national troops held firm and captured some militia members. Residents described Baidoa as calm now, though it feels like a ghost town with so many people fleeing over the past week. Shopkeepers and elders note federal soldiers patrolling their areas, but aid agencies paused work fearing more fighting between the army and state. Troops. The Interior Minister for Southwest State hasn't commented yet. This flare-up highlights deeper cracks in Somalia's federal setup, sparked by Mogadishu's recent constitutional changes that some regional bosses oppose.

1:03Tensions linger as the army digs in, but for now, they've got the upper hand in key spots, reshaping power dynamics in this volatile corner of the. Horn of Africa. I'm Cory with the story, and you've been listening to Global News today, AI-powered Global Coverage.