Somalia’s Supreme Court has ruled that the decision to extend President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s tenure by one year was unlawful, escalating a political crisis that has triggered violent clashes between government forces and opposition supporters.
The court ruled on Thursday that constitutional amendments passed by parliament in March could not be applied to Mohamud’s current term, which expired in May. It said the president should have left office at the end of his mandate.
Mohamud’s government had declared a one-year transition period, arguing that the extension was necessary to prepare for the country’s first nationwide democratic elections, scheduled for April and May 2027.
The president had maintained that the arrangement was constitutional, citing amendments approved by parliament. However, opposition parties and regional leaders boycotted the vote.
The court’s ruling came amid a separate dispute over the leadership of the judiciary. On Wednesday night, Mohamud announced the dismissal of Chief Justice Bashe Yusuf Ahmed and the appointment of a replacement.
Unconfirmed reports on Thursday indicated that Ahmed had been arrested.
In a statement published on Facebook, the presidency did not directly address the court’s pending constitutional decision, saying the dismissal was based on concerns about the need for an efficient and fair judiciary.
However, the Supreme Court rejected the president’s action, accusing the presidency of attempting to obstruct proceedings in the constitutional case before it.
“The dismissal announced in the statement published on the Presidency’s Facebook page is null and void,” the court declared.
