Somalia's national army has taken control of the largest city in Southwest state, Baidoa, following the resignation of regional leader Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen. This comes two weeks after his administration announced it was severing ties with the federal government. The strategic city is home to international peacekeepers and humanitarian agencies in an area affected by drought, conflict and displacement. The central government in Mogadishu praised the state's transition and urged calm and unity. The dispute with Southwest is another sign of strain in Somalia's fragile federal system ahead of a contentious national election.