Somalia: Ex-Governor's Forces Seize Key Towns, Defy Federal Government

Forces loyal to ousted South West State governor Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen have taken control of major towns, escalating a power struggle against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's federal government. The move follows a March federal offensive to remove Laftagareen, and now signals a significant reversal as his loyalists regain ground. This deepens Somalia's internal fragmentation and risks broader instability.