Intense clashes have broken out in the Somali city of Baidoa between government forces and fighters loyal to the ousted regional president.
Fighter jets and drones were reported as the hostilities flared on Monday in the South West State city after thousands of local fighters entered the city in the morning. Violence has plagued the city in recent weeks as the army seeks to maintain the control it wrested earlier this year.
“The national army confronted them, inflicted heavy casualties and drove them out of the city,” senior army commander Mohamed Ali said, according to the AFP news agency. He added that the local fighters had vehicles loaded with explosives and explosive drones.
A number of states in Somalia oppose President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. His government sent troops to oust the head of South West State, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen in March. Laftagareen has repeatedly attempted to retake the area, including the administrative capital of Baidoa.
The medical NGO Doctors Without Borders said three people had died including a health care worker.
Medical teams working with the Ministry of Health at Baidoa’s Bay Regional Hospital said they had received 69 patients affected by the violence, including five children.
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