Baidoa Security Crisis is the main worry for thousands of families today as heavy gunfire continues to echo through the streets of the city because of a deep political fight. President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed who is widely known as Laftagareen has been in power since late 2018 and he still commands a large group of soldiers who take direct orders from him. Even though his official time in office has actually finished he is still sitting in the big chair because of a special deal he made with the national leader Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. This Baidoa Security Crisis got much worse yesterday because the local leader does not want to see any opposition forces moving into the town or opening new offices. Some of the armed men inside the city have decided to stop listening to the president and they are now getting their support from the opposition groups who want a new election. This split in the military is the heart of the Baidoa Security Crisis that has stopped people from going to work or opening their small shops in the market.
The reason why this Baidoa Security Crisis is so dangerous is that both sides have heavy weapons and they are parked in residential neighborhoods where children are trying to sleep. This Baidoa Security Crisis shows how difficult it is to have a stable government when the leaders cannot agree on when the next vote should happen. Laftagareen believes he has the right to stay until the new deal is finished but the opposition says he is overstaying his welcome and they want him to leave now. Because of the Baidoa Security Crisis the schools have closed their doors and the main roads leading out of town are blocked by soldiers who are nervous about who is coming or going. You can see the smoke from the fighting in some parts of the city and it reminds everyone of the dark days we all want to forget. This Baidoa Security Crisis is a big test for the federal government in Mogadishu to see if they can step in and stop the bleeding before it turns into a full civil war inside the state.
Major Impacts of the Baidoa Security Crisis on Local People
First the Baidoa Security Crisis has caused the price of food and water to go up very fast because the trucks are scared to enter the city. Second many families have started to run away from their homes because of the Baidoa Security Crisis and they are hiding in the bushes or moving to smaller villages nearby. Third the Baidoa Security Crisis makes it very hard for the doctors to reach the hospitals to help the people who have been hit by stray bullets.
Fourth because of the Baidoa Security Crisis the internet and phone lines are sometimes cutting out which makes it impossible to call for help or check on relatives. Fifth the Baidoa Security Crisis is destroying the trust between the neighbors who might support different sides of the political fight. Sixth and finally the Baidoa Security Crisis gives a chance for extremist groups like Al-Shabaab to move closer to the city while the army is busy fighting itself in the streets.
The Search for Peace Amidst the Baidoa Security Crisis
We all know that the only way to end the Baidoa Security Crisis is for the leaders to sit down and talk instead of using guns to solve their problems. It is very sad to see our own brothers shooting at each other over a seat in an office while the regular people are the ones who suffer the most. The Baidoa Security Crisis can be solved if there is a clear date for a fair election that everyone can agree on so that the soldiers can go back to their bases. We need the elders and the religious leaders to stand up and demand a stop to the violence before more blood is spilled on our soil. The Baidoa Security Crisis is a wound that needs to be healed with words and compromise not with more fire and anger.
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We just want to wake up in a city where the only sound is the call to prayer and the noise of the market instead of the sound of bullets. The Baidoa Security Crisis has lasted too long and it is time for the politicians to put the people first for once in their lives. Let us hope that tomorrow brings better news and that the soldiers find a way to shake hands and protect the city together.
