Kathmandu— Somalia's military has repelled an armed assault in Baidoa, the largest city in Somalia’s South West State. The attack was carried out by militias loyal to ousted Governor Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen and began with explosions intended to terrorize civilians early on Thursday morning. Despite the initial violence, the army responded bravely and inflicted heavy losses on the attackers.

Political Context

The attack occurred amid regional political tensions in Somalia’s South West State. In March, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud sent troops to oust Laftagareen due to his opposition against moving towards democratic elections. Laftagareen had previously attempted to retake the state in May and fought federal forces for control of Baidoa in August.

Impact on Civilians

The assault caused significant disruption to residents in Baidoa, with gunfire and explosions heard throughout different parts of the town. Residents were forced indoors as the fighting lasted several hours. Witnesses reported that after six hours of battles, the city returned to calm.

Investigation and Aftermath

The Defence Ministry is investigating the number of fighters killed during the attack and will release details once the assessment is completed. The ministry also accused the armed groups of operating alongside al-Shabab terrorists, a long-running rebel group that controls vast swathes of central Somalia.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.