BAIDAO — The President of Somalia’s Southwest State, Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur “Madoobe,” on Thursday chaired a high-level security meeting in Baidoa that approved a series of new measures aimed at strengthening stability and improving coordination among security forces.
The meeting brought together the Minister of Security, senior military commanders, intelligence officials, and regional security administrators, and focused on the overall security situation in the state, which has in recent years faced threats from armed groups and intermittent instability.
Officials agreed on stricter regulations governing the movement of armed personnel inside Baidoa, including a ban on soldiers carrying weapons in public areas unless they are wearing official military uniforms. The decision is intended, according to authorities, to reduce confusion between security forces and armed individuals operating outside formal command structures.
The meeting also introduced restrictions on the use of military vehicles within the city, stating that armored and official security vehicles will only be permitted to operate when engaged in authorized missions. Authorities said the move is aimed at improving public safety and reducing unauthorized military activity in urban areas.
In addition, the leadership approved a set of planned operations designed to reopen and secure key roads linking Baidoa with surrounding districts across Southwest State. These routes have at times been disrupted by security incidents and roadblocks, affecting civilian movement and trade.
Officials further pledged to expand community-based security cooperation, emphasizing the role of local elders and residents in supporting law enforcement efforts. Security agencies were instructed to strengthen intelligence-sharing and improve coordination with the public.
President Madoobe, according to officials who attended the meeting, stressed the importance of unity among security institutions and local communities, saying sustained peace requires joint responsibility and stronger institutional discipline.
“He emphasized that stability cannot be achieved by security forces alone, but through cooperation between the government and the people,” one official said.
Southwest State authorities have in recent months intensified security operations in and around Baidoa, as part of broader efforts to stabilize strategic towns and safeguard main supply routes in the region.
The latest decisions are expected to be implemented immediately, though officials did not provide a specific timeline for enforcement or outline potential penalties for violations.
Baidoa remains a key political and administrative center in Southwest State, as well as a hub for humanitarian operations and regional governance activities.
