Mogadishu (SD) – Commander of the Somali Armed Forces Gen. Odowa Yusuf Rage, warned the armed forces against meddling in political affairs and certain political groups.

Gen. Odowa Yusuf Rage made the comment as he addressed military officers he met with in Mogadishu.

“The work of the Somali National Army is not to work with factions that could undermine the unity and duty of the forces that have been established and sworn in. That should be avoided,” he said.

Jen. Odowa Yusuf Rage urged the national army to avoid anything that could lead that could weaken the confidence and power of the forces.

“We must keep our oath. We must protect the unity of our nation. We must maintain the confidence of our community,” said General Odowa.

The statement from the Commander of the Somali National Army comes at a time of heightened tensions between President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, with some Somali National Army (SNA) forces opposing the president’s suspension of the PM.