Somali army repels Al-Shabaab attack on key Baidoa–Mogadishu route, kills 21 militants

Somali government forces advancing towards Baidoa engaged in fighting with Al-Shabaab militants in the Bay region on March 29, 2026, killing 21 of them. (Photo: Handout)

By Abdirahman Khalif
Sunday, March 29, 2026

Somali federal forces clashed with Al-Shabaab near Baidoa, killing 21 militants on a key route to Mogadishu, as troop deployments escalate amid a political dispute in Southwest State.

Somali federal government forces advancing toward Baidoa clashed with Al-Shabaab militants in the Bay region, killing 21 of them, with over 10 others being wounded, Somalia’s Ministry of Defence has said.

This comes as military operations continued alongside political tensions between federal authorities and leaders in the Southwest State.

The fighting with the militants occurred in Daynuunay, a strategic point along the main route linking Baidoa and Mogadishu, where a roadside bomb explosion had been reported a day earlier. Residents said the situation escalated when government troops encountered militant fighters, triggering several hours of gunfire.

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The ministry also said government forces seized weapons from the militants after the clash. It described the location as a vital corridor for movement between Baidoa and Mogadishu, underscoring its importance in ongoing military operations.

"The Somali National Armed Forces has also fully taken control of the town of Daynuunaay, which is a key route connecting the Baidoa–Mogadishu Road," the Defence Ministry said.

The fighting comes as federal troops continue advancing toward Baidoa, the administrative centre of Southwest State, in what sources describe as part of a broader effort to assert control over the region.

Reports indicate that the federal government has deployed more than four units, along with allied local forces, to the area.

The deployment is tied to a dispute between the federal government and Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen.

The regional leader has opposed the election framework backed by federal authorities, heightening political and security tensions in the region.