Somali Opposition Accuses President of Seizing Supreme Court

Somalia's opposition coalition, the Somali Future Council, has accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of using security forces to take control of the country's Supreme Court. The council, led by former president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, issued a statement condemning the alleged assault on the Federal Supreme Court. The opposition group also accused security agencies of intimidating former Chief Justice Baashe Yusuf Ahmed and judges who issued a ruling challenging the terms of the country's federal institutions.

The Supreme Court ruled that the mandates of the president, parliament, and federal government had expired, and called on political leaders to agree on an electoral framework within 30 days and hold elections within 90 days. The judgment directly challenges the government's position that constitutional amendments approved by parliament in March allow Mohamud and federal lawmakers to remain in office until 2027. The court said the amendments extending presidential and parliamentary terms could not be applied retrospectively to current officeholders.

The Somali Future Council welcomed the Supreme Court's decision, describing it as an opportunity to end the country's political deadlock and resolve disagreements over the electoral process through an inclusive political agreement. The council urged national leaders to respect the court's decision and pursue negotiations to prevent further instability. Somalia is facing a critical political situation, the council said, and urged citizens to remain vigilant.

The dispute intensified after Mohamud dismissed Chief Justice Baashe Yusuf Ahmed on November 4 and appointed his predecessor, Ibrahim Idle Suleiman, to replace him. The Supreme Court subsequently declared the dismissal null and void, saying the president had failed to follow constitutional procedures required to remove the chief justice. The court also accused the presidency of attempting to interfere with a pending constitutional case.

The presidency had justified Baashe's removal by citing complaints from judges, judicial staff, and legal professionals about the administration of justice and the need for judicial reforms. However, the Somali Future Council placed responsibility for the escalating political crisis on Mohamud, accusing him of being at the centre of the dispute. The opposition coalition warned that the president would bear responsibility for any consequences arising from the situation.

The confrontation comes amid a broader dispute between the federal government and opposition leaders over constitutional amendments, electoral arrangements, and the future of Somalia's political transition. The government has maintained that the constitutional changes provide a legal basis for its electoral roadmap, which schedules parliamentary elections for April 2027 and a presidential vote in May.

Opposition leaders, including the Somali Future Council, have rejected the government's approach and called for an inclusive political agreement on elections. The latest developments have raised concerns about judicial independence and the potential for further political instability in a country already facing security challenges from Al-Shabaab militants.

Key points

• The Somali Future Council has condemned President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's alleged use of force to control the Supreme Court.
• The Supreme Court ruled that the mandates of the president, parliament, and federal government had expired.
• The opposition coalition has called for an inclusive political agreement on elections to prevent further instability.