Somalia's Supreme Court declares President Mohamud's term extension unlawful
The court ordered elections within 90 days. The opposition accuses the President of deploying troops against the Chief Justice.
Somalia's Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the one-year extension of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's term was unlawful, plunging the country into a deepening political crisis.
The President's term ended in May, but his government declared a one-year "transition period" to prepare for the country's first nationwide democratic elections, scheduled for April and May 2027. Mr Mohamud maintained that he was entitled to remain in office under constitutional amendments adopted by parliament in March. The opposition denounced the move as a seizure of power, and it provoked violent clashes in Mogadishu.
The court found that the amendments did not apply to the current presidential term and that Mr Mohamud should have left office in May. It called for a new agreement among political parties within 30 days and for elections to be held within 90 days.
Before the ruling was published, the Presidency announced on social media that the Chief Justice, Bashe Yusuf Ahmed, had been dismissed. The court responded that the President had no authority to remove the judge and accused him of seeking to obstruct the administration of justice. Former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire alleged that troops had been deployed to the court's premises and that the Chief Justice and lawyers were being pursued for arrest. These claims could not be independently verified.
In Mogadishu, opinion was divided. "The Supreme Court is right and its decision is right," said resident Abdullahi Hassan Sheikh, while Mohamed Farah Ahmed considered the ruling mistaken.
The crisis comes as the federal government loses international support for its campaign against the Islamist insurgent group Al-Shabaab.