Somalia's opposition leaders have condemned the deployment of government troops around the Supreme Court in Mogadishu. Former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and other opposition leaders accuse President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of undermining judicial independence. The troop deployment follows Supreme Court rulings rejecting the dismissal of the chief justice and the extension of the president's term. Sharif Sheikh Ahmed described the president's decision to remove Chief Justice Baashe Yusuf Ahmed as unlawful.
The opposition leaders spoke at a news conference in Mogadishu, warning that interference in the judiciary's operations could undermine the rule of law and Somalia's state institutions. Sharif Sheikh Ahmed welcomed the Supreme Court's decision rejecting the application of constitutional amendments extending presidential and parliamentary terms to the current administration. He argued that the ruling reinforced the importance of respecting constitutional procedures. The opposition also criticized the removal of Baashe, saying the government failed to follow the legal process required to dismiss senior judicial officials.
Opposition lawmaker Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame accused President Hassan Sheikh of worsening the country's political and security challenges through unilateral decisions. Warsame cited the conclusion of the United Nations political mission's mandate in Somalia and the planned withdrawal of foreign troops as developments that reflect growing challenges facing the government. He also referred to a reported one-year timeline for the withdrawal of some foreign forces supporting security operations in Somalia.
The Supreme Court issued two rulings that directly challenged the presidency. In one ruling, the court declared Hassan Sheikh's dismissal of Baashe null and void, saying the president lacked constitutional authority to remove the chief justice without following required procedures. The court accused the presidency of attempting to interfere with a constitutional case filed by Sharif Sheikh Ahmed challenging amendments to Somalia's provisional Constitution.
In a separate ruling, the Supreme Court rejected the application of constitutional amendments extending presidential and parliamentary terms from four to five years to the current administration. The court said Hassan Sheikh's mandate had expired in May 2026 and that amendments adopted during his presidency could not be applied retroactively to extend his term. This challenges the federal government's position that Hassan Sheikh could remain in office until May 2027.
The confrontation between the presidency and Supreme Court comes at a critical moment for Somalia's political transition. Disagreements over constitutional amendments, electoral arrangements, and presidential authority remain unresolved. The opposition groups, including the Somali Future Council, have rejected the government's electoral timetable and demanded a negotiated electoral agreement.
The presidency had not publicly responded to the court's latest term-limit ruling, its rejection of Baashe's dismissal, or allegations that security forces had been deployed around the court. The developments have raised concerns about the country's ability to hold elections and transition to a new government.
Key points
- President Hassan Sheikh's dismissal of Chief Justice Baashe Yusuf Ahmed was declared null and void by the Supreme Court.
- The Supreme Court rejected the application of constitutional amendments extending presidential and parliamentary terms to the current administration.
- The opposition leaders accuse President Hassan Sheikh of undermining judicial independence and worsening the country's political and security challenges.
