Somalia's power struggle has deepened following a Supreme Court ruling that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's term has expired and that new elections must be held within 90 days. The court's decision on Thursday came a day after Mohamud dismissed the country's chief justice.
The Supreme Court's judgment rejected the president's assertion that constitutional changes allowed him to remain in office until 2027. The court stated that parliament's decision to extend presidential and parliamentary terms from four to five years did not grant current officeholders an additional year in power, ruling that their terms had already concluded. The judges mandated that political leaders must agree on an election process within 30 days and limited the government to routine administrative functions until a vote can occur.
The presidency cited complaints about the administration of justice and the need for judicial reform as reasons for dismissing Chief Justice Baashe Yusuf Ahmed. However, the Supreme Court rejected his removal, asserting that the president had violated the constitution and was attempting to impede the court's review of the term extensions. Local reports indicated that government troops were deployed around the Supreme Court on Thursday and the chief justice was ordered to leave, though this could not be independently verified.
The confrontation occurs a week after the United Nations closed its political mission, which had been instrumental in mediating between rival leaders. No replacement mediator has been appointed amid an election dispute that has already led to armed clashes in the capital, Mogadishu.
Former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who initiated the legal challenge, welcomed the ruling and urged the president to engage in negotiations. However, political analyst Adnan Abdi Ali expressed skepticism about the enforcement of the ruling, noting the ongoing electoral disputes. The broader dispute also encompasses how Somalis will vote, with the president favoring direct elections over the current system where clan representatives elect lawmakers who then choose the president. Opposition leaders and the regional governments of Puntland and Jubaland have contested his constitutional and electoral changes.
Concerns about political instability have been amplified by the departure of Ugandan troops and the planned withdrawal of African Union peacekeepers from key bases by the end of 2027. These security arrangements have been crucial in counteracting al-Shabab militants. Mohamed Husein Gaas, director of the RAAD Peace Research Institute, warned that competing claims to power could weaken cooperation among security forces, potentially leaving Somalia facing a political crisis without a clear mechanism for resolution.