Fighting in Baidoa

Fighting broke out in the town of Baidoa on Monday between different members of the Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA) which controls the area, local sources told IRIN.

"Serious fighting broke out at 8:00 a.m. [05:00 GMT] local time this morning [Monday] and continued till 12:30 [p.m.]," they said.

Tension has been rising in the town as a result of a deepening split within the senior ranks of the RRA, which controls much of the Bay and Bakol regions of southwestern Somalia. The split originates from differences between the RRA chairman, Hasan Muhammad Nur Shatigadud, and his two deputies, Shaykh Adan Madobe and Muhammad Ibrahim Habsade, the sources said.

The fighting started when forces loyal to Shaykh Adan and Habsade tried to forcibly take possession of the main police station, which is also the customs compound where taxes and customs duties are collected, from Shatigadud loyalists.

"What happened today was a coup attempt by Adan Madobe and Habsade to overthrow the legitimate administration of the South West State of Somalia [SWS]," one source said.

The decision to establish the SWS was reached at a meeting of the RRA central committee and over 70 elders from the Digil and Mirifle clans in Baidoa in late March, with Shatigadud inaugurated on 31 March as president of the new regional administration for an initial four-year term.

But both Shaykh Adan and Habsade were reportedly unhappy with the formation of the SWS, since they felt it had sidelined them.

There were reportedly a number of casualties in the fighting, but "no exact figure", according to the sources. Among those killed were two religious leaders who died in cross-fire while attempting to stop the fighting.

Meanwhile, Baidoa is said to be deserted, with all business activities completely shut down. "Everybody is taking cover, with very little activity on the streets," one source said. Both sides are said to be mobilising and calling in troops from outside the town "with the real possibility of renewed conflict at any time".