Somali Supreme Court Blocks Presidential Term Extension Amid Escalating Constitutional Crisis

On Thursday, Somalia’s Supreme Court ruled that constitutional amendments cannot be applied retroactively to the president’s current term.

In a separate ruling, the court declared the dismissal of the chief justice “null and void,” accusing the presidency of undermining judicial independence.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud appointed Ibrahim Idle Suleiman, a former officeholder, to replace Ahmed.

The presidency stated that the dismissal followed concerns over the administration of justice and aimed to establish a fair and transparent judiciary.

The court rejected that justification, emphasizing that the chief justice can only be removed through established constitutional procedures.

Former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed welcomed the ruling, stating that “the country is facing a grave political crisis” and urging Mohamud to pursue a consensus-based approach.

Tensions escalated Thursday when former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire accused the president of stationing security forces at the Supreme Court and attempting to arrest its chief justice.

Khaire described the move as an “assault on the Supreme Court,” according to AFP.

“Somalia stands at a dangerous juncture,” he said. “The dismantling of our judiciary is a direct threat to the rule of law.”

AFP said it could not independently verify the reported deployment, though photographs circulating in Somali media appeared to show armed personnel inside the court compound.

The rulings have cast uncertainty over Somalia’s electoral timetable.

The electoral commission has scheduled parliamentary elections for April 15, 2027, with a presidential vote set for one month later; however, opposition groups and the regional administrations of Puntland and Jubaland have rejected the timetable.

President Mohamud has called for national talks from November 14 to 18 to resolve the deadlock, though opposition leaders have questioned his legitimacy to convene the discussions.

The political turmoil unfolds as Somalia continues to combat al-Shabaab, which controls large parts of the countryside despite years of military operations.

Uganda, the largest troop contributor to the African Union mission fighting the militants, announced this week that it plans to withdraw its forces by year’s end, further heightening concerns over Somalia’s security.

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