BAIDOA (SD) – Mortars were fired at Shati Gaduud Airport in Baidoa on Tuesday as a plane carrying Mahad Salad, Director of Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), landed from Mogadishu, according to local sources.

Witnesses reported that several mortars struck near the airport, triggering panic among civilians and officials present. No casualties were reported in the latest attack, which marks the second such incident targeting the airport within a week.

The previous attack occurred on Friday, when Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Baydhabo. Multiple mortars hit areas in and around the airport, including the runway and passenger sections, forcing the president to be swiftly evacuated.

The renewed attacks come amid a tense political and security situation in Baydhabo, where federal leaders are attempting to organize rapid elections following the collapse of the South West regional administration. Local elders and politicians, however, are calling for reconciliation efforts before any electoral process moves forward.

Residents say the security situation has sharply deteriorated, with Al-Shabaab increasingly active in the years of relative stability. The armed group is now reportedly carrying out attacks on key infrastructure and civilian areas, raising fears of further instability in the region.

The repeated mortar attacks signal a growing security vacuum in Baydhabo following political upheaval and the withdrawal of the regional administration. Al-Shabaab appears to be exploiting this instability to reassert its presence, particularly by targeting high-profile arrivals and critical infrastructure. Without swift stabilization and political consensus, the situation risks further escalation, undermining both security and governance efforts in South West Somalia.