It will also raise concerns about the prospect of renewed clashes between factions in the security forces allied to each side.
President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed on Monday accused Prime Minister Mohammed Hussein Roble of stealing land owned by the Somali National Army (SNA) and of interfering with a defence ministry investigation.
In response,Roble said the move was unconstitutional and aimed at derailing an ongoing election. He also ordered the security forces to start taking orders from him,instead of the President.
The steps taken by Mohamed “were an open coup attempt against the government and the national constitution”,Roble said in a statement posted on the Facebook page of Somalia state news agency SONNA.
“The aim of the illegal,crooked steps ... is to derail the election and illegally remain in office.”
Somalia began holding parliamentary elections on November 1 and they were supposed to be completed by December 24 but only a few of the 275 representatives have been elected.