(Raxanreeb Online) — Somalia’s Minister of Defence, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, on Thursday visited frontline defensive positions in the Guumays area, where he met with units of the Somali National Army (SNA) and the Darawiish forces of the North Eastern State administration.

Addressing troops and senior officers, the minister called for continued efforts to consolidate peace, uphold Somalia’s unity, and prevent what he described as external attempts to fuel division and fragmentation.

Fiqi said he was encouraged by the sight of the Federal Republic of Somalia’s flag, the SNA flag and the North Eastern State administration’s flag flying in Guumays—an area where, he noted, such symbols had previously been rejected. He expressed hope that what he termed a renewed spirit of unity would extend in the near term to other locations still under separatist control.

The defence minister also reiterated his long-standing position that the Somali National Army should progressively assume full responsibility for national security nationwide. He added that the federal government is closely monitoring the situation of forces operating in the North East and will provide the support and resources they need.