Antiquity Baidoa is located in the inter-riverine region of Somalia. It is the 2nd largest city in south somalia, only behind Mogadishu, and is the
de facto capital of the South-West State (
Koonfur Galbeed). Baidoa and the broader
Bay region is home to a number of important ancient sites. Archaeologists have found pre-historic rock art on the city's outskirts, in
Buur Heybe.
Medieval During the medieval period, Baidoa was founded and settled by the Madanle clan and many traditions link the Ajuran with a people known to Somalis Madanle (Maaanthinle, Madinle, etc.) who were celebrated well-diggers in southern Somalia. Many traditions ascribe Madanle origins to Baidao and were attributed to stone-built rectangular enclosure in the deep interior so far adequately described. Baidoa is said to have solid stone and mortar walls ruins some four foot six inches high in places. This affirms the traditions that Baidoa during
Ajuran was a large town and a trading hub center.
Early Modern , 1925 Baidoa was captured by Sultan
Ibrahim Adeer who defeated the Madanle section of
Ajuran and expelled them from the region. The city population was eventually replaced by
Mirifle and the city reached its golden age under
Geledi Sultanate rule. It was crossroads of caravan trade. Baidoa city was surrounded with large walls with one fortified gate. It attracted many merchants and farmers from the benadir coast to settle in what came to be known as Buula Benadir (the Benadir quarter).
Menelik II of Ethiopia invaded Baidoa in the late 19th century, but was pushed back under Sultan
Osman Ahmed rule. In September 1995,
United Somali Congress militia attacked and occupied the town. The Australian contingent of
Unified Task Force UNISOM1, running the Baidoa Humanitarian Relief Sector from January 1993, found themselves dealing primarily with the 'Somali Liberation Army' Duduble sub-clan of Aideed's USC. "They were able to provide an ongoing flow of funds to Aideed in Mogadishu from the proceeds of their activities in the Bay region, while enriching themselves in the process." They remained in control of Baidoa until around January 1996, while the local
Rahanweyn Resistance Army militia continued to engage the USC in the town's environs. In 1999, the RRA seized control of the wider Lower Shabelle, Gedo, Bay and
Bakool provinces. The town and larger region gradually rebounded to become among the more stable areas in the south. In 2005, the Southwestern State was officially dissolved after its leader Shatigadud had joined the
Transitional Federal Parliament in November 2004 and later became minister of finance in January 2005 in the
Transitional Federal Government (TFG), the TNG's successor. In early 2005, the TFG sent official delegations to Baidoa and
Jowhar to assess the suitability of each city as a temporary headquarters for the TFG before an eventual relocation of government offices to Mogadishu. In June–July 2005, the Transitional Federal Government established an interim seat in Jowhar due to ongoing insecurity in the capital. To strengthen its presence in the town, the central authorities built an improved airport and inaugurated the Duduble Canal. The TFG later moved its temporary headquarters to Baidoa. In December 2006,
Ethiopian troops entered Somalia to assist the TFG against the advancing
Islamic Courts Union, initially winning the
Battle of Baidoa. On 28 December 2006, the allied forces
recaptured the capital from the ICU. The offensive helped the TFG solidify its rule. On 8 January 2007, for the first time since taking office, President
Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed entered Mogadishu from Baidoa to engage in consultations with local business, religious and civil society representatives as the TFG moved its base to the national capital. Following its defeat, the Islamic Courts Union splintered into several different factions. Some of the more radical elements, including al-Shabaab, regrouped to continue its insurgency against the TFG and oppose the Ethiopian military's presence in Somalia. Throughout 2007 and 2008, Al-Shabaab scored military victories, seizing control of key towns and ports in both central and southern Somalia. At the end of 2008, the group had captured Baidoa but not Mogadishu. In February 2012, Somali government forces and allied Ethiopian troops re-captured Baidoa from Al-Shabaab.
Southwestern State In December 2013, a convention began in Baidoa between
Federal Government officials and local representatives with the aim of establishing an
autonomous state in the area under the
Provision Federal Constitution. Two simultaneous political processes for the establishment of a new Southwestern State of Somalia were underway: one led by former Parliament Speaker
Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan, which proposed a three region state consisting of the Bay, Bakool and Lower Shabelle provinces; another led by convention organizer Malaq Ali Shino, former MP Madobe Nunow Mohamed and erstwhile Bay region Governor Abdifatah Geesey, which proposed instead the re-establishment of a six region Southwestern Somalia state consisting of the Bay, Bakool,
Lower Shabelle,
Gedo,
Middle Jubba and
Lower Jubba provinces. From 2022 to 2023, the region was hit by record-breaking drought. ==Demographics==