Somalia troops and armed opposition clash in heavy Baidoa fighting as civilian toll rises

Somalia's federal troops and armed opposition groups engaged in heavy fighting in the city center of Baidoa on Monday. The clash involved local military forces and opposition factions, with reports of the violence confirmed by local residents and army officials.

Baidoa serves as a major hub for international peacekeepers and humanitarian agencies, housing a population exceeding one million people. The conflict poses a significant threat to the region's stability, as the city hosts hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals, including a refugee population where one in four children currently suffers from malnutrition.