By Mustafa Abdi Ibrahim
MOGADISHU — Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has squarely blamed the Federal Government for the deadly violence that recently engulfed Baydhabo, asserting that the bloodshed is a direct consequence of the forceful overthrow of the Southwest State’s administration.
In a strongly worded statement, Sharif condemned the clashes as a tragic and regrettable development that demands universal reproach. He urgently called on all warring factions active in the city to demonstrate maximum restraint and immediately return to the negotiating table.
Emphasizing that his position is far from new, the former president noted that he had consistently opposed the extension of term limits for regional state leaders—specifically referencing former Southwest President Abdiasis Laftagareen. He went further to criticize the federal authorities for resorting to military intervention to unseat Laftagareen and impose a leadership handpicked by the central government in Mogadishu.
Addressing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud directly, Sharif appealed for a renewed commitment to political dialogue. He cautioned that without a swift and peaceful settlement, the current trajectory could push the country toward deep fragmentation and catastrophic destruction from which recovery would be exceedingly difficult.
The Baydhabo confrontations erupted between federal forces and troops loyal to Laftagareen, who briefly overran parts of the city before being dislodged by government soldiers. Reports from the ground indicate that at least 30 people lost their lives in the intense fighting, with casualties sustained on both sides.
In the wake of the battle, the Federal Government paraded captured individuals and deceased bodies, alleging that some of the detainees were linked to Al-Shabaab. However, authorities have yet to produce independent or verifiable evidence to substantiate these claims, leaving the allegations unconfirmed.
