Somalia's Supreme Court has ruled that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's term extension was unlawful, plunging the country into a deepening political crisis. The court's decision has sparked mixed reactions among residents in Mogadishu, with some supporting the ruling and others opposing it. The country is already dealing with multiple crises, including violent clashes between political rivals and a long-running insurgency by the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab group.
The Supreme Court's ruling on Thursday stated that the president's term extension was unlawful and that he should have left office in May. The court called for a new agreement between political parties within 30 days and elections to be held within 90 days. However, before the ruling was even published, the president's office announced that he was dismissing the chief justice, Bashe Yusuf Ahmed, and appointing a replacement.
The president's move has been met with resistance from the Supreme Court, which accused him of trying to obstruct the administration of justice. A former prime minister, Hassan Ali Khaire, claimed that the president had launched an assault on the Supreme Court and deployed troops to its premises. Images published by Somali media appeared to show military forces in the court's compound.
The crisis has sparked concerns about the rule of law in Somalia, with many calling for calm and respect for the court's decision. The opposition has accused President Mohamud of sending troops to arrest the Supreme Court's chief justice, while the president argues that he was allowed to stay in office under constitutional amendments passed by parliament.
Somalia is facing a security crisis related to the long-running insurgency by Al-Shabaab, which controls swathes of the country. International donors have been slashing funding for the international military mission that has been ongoing for almost 20 years, frustrated by the lack of progress against the militants and the endless political chaos.
The country's international partners have expressed concerns about the situation, with Uganda announcing that it will be pulling out all troops by the end of 2027. Washington has also cut all donations to a critical United Nations logistics mission on which the military coalition relies. The crisis has raised fears about the impact on the country's stability and security.
The situation in Somalia remains volatile, with many calling for calm and respect for the rule of law. The country's future is uncertain, with the opposition and regional parties demanding that the president respect the Supreme Court's decision and step down.
Key points
- President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's term extension was ruled unlawful by Somalia's Supreme Court.
- The court's decision has sparked a political crisis, with the opposition accusing the president of sending troops to arrest the Supreme Court's chief justice.
- The crisis has raised concerns about the rule of law and stability in Somalia, which is already facing a security crisis related to the Al-Shabaab insurgency.
