Fears of renewed fighting in Baidoa as curfew imposed

Tension is rising in the town of Baidoa due to fears of fresh fighting between two factions of the Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA), which controls much of the Bay and Bakol regions of southwestern Somalia.

Sources in Baidoa told IRIN the administration of Col Hasan Muhammad Nur Shatigadud, the RRA chairman, had imposed a curfew on the town which began on Monday.

"We are under curfew from 8:00 pm local time till dawn," a business source in Baidoa told IRIN on Wednesday. He said the curfew had been imposed following an attack in the town centre on Monday by suspected supporters of Shatigadud's two deputies and rivals for power. Three people were killed in the attack.

Fighting first broke out in Baidoa on 1 July between forces loyal to Shatigadud and those of Shaykh Adan Madobe, the first vice-chairman and the second RRA vice-chairman, Muhammad Ibrahim Habsade, in an apparent power struggle. On 31 July, Shatigadud's forces drove his deputies and their forces out of Baidoa and seized control of the town.

"There is real fear and anticipation of a new round of fighting in the next few days," the source added.

"Most businesses are closing much earlier than the official curfew time due to the uncertain security situation," he said. "There are reports that the Madobe/Habsade alliance has regrouped and is now poised to attack the town in an attempt to capture it. Others are already trying to move their families to safer areas."