Fierce clashes have erupted once again in Somalia’s Gedo region as federal government forces advanced and took control of key strategic towns, including Balad Hawo, Bardere, and Garbaharey.
The fresh escalation is as a result of a long-running power struggle between the central government in Mogadishu and the Jubaland administration.
Multiple local sources confirm that the offensive was launched earlier today, with Balad Hawo the volatile border town opposite Kenya’s Mandera town falling to federal troops in the morning hours.
A senior officer from the Jubaland forces was reportedly injured in the fighting.
While parts of Gedo remain under the control of Jubaland, the federal government’s move marks a significant escalation in the ongoing contest for territorial control in the region.
Garbaharey, a town of political and symbolic importance often regarded as the administrative capital of Gedo was also reportedly seized during the operation.
“Today, the federal government took over Balad Hawo,” a source familiar with developments on the ground told Kulan Post.
“They have also moved into Bardere and Garbaharey. Only Luuq and Dollow remain under the control of Jubaland.”
Fighting between the Somali National Army (SNA) and Jubaland security forces has been a recurring issue in the region. It deepened the political crisis and complicated humanitarian efforts in already fragile areas.
The status of Luuq and Dollow remains unchanged for now, with sources indicating that these towns are still under Jubaland administration.
The federal government had yet to issue an official statement on the operation by the time the article was published.
The timing is seen as a strategic maneuver ahead of anticipated electoral reforms and upcoming negotiations involving Somalia’s federal member states.
Observers warn that renewed conflict in Gedo may further destabilize the region, which has experienced intermittent clashes since 2020.
Civilians in affected towns have reported displacement and fear of renewed violence as power changes hands.
