The Gambia’s armed forces chief has warned soldiers to avoid getting involved in politics. 

Lieutenant General Yakuba Drammeh made the warning today at the start of a whistle-stop tour of military deployments in the country.

“As a fine institution like the military, we cannot afford to take part in political activities. We are not politicians, we are soldiers, we are pragmatic soldiers. 

“Once we can earn the trust and confidence of the people as brothers and sisters in uniform, let us stay away from politics,” General Drammeh told soldiers at the Farafenni military barracks. 

He added: “We cannot exercise our allegiance openly. Gone are those days when we engaged ourselves into political wagons.”

The army urged the soldiers to refrain from tribalism, adding that the army is the last line of national unity. 

“We cannot afford to be divided on tribal or political grounds. We amply demonstrated that during the political impasse of 2016 when we remained together even though some attempted to divide us. 

“If we can do it yesterday, I want to believe that today we can do the same. So Let us remain united.”

He urged the soldiers to register to vote as it is their constitutional rights. 

The Gambia goes to the poll on December 4 to elect a new president.