Somalia President Accused of Ordering Chief Justice’s Arrest

Somalia’s opposition has accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Thursday of deploying troops to arrest the Supreme Court’s chief justice after the court ruled that his extension in office was unlawful.

The political crisis has deepened as the country faces growing security challenges and renewed violence linked to political rivalries. The government is also losing international support for its fight against the Al-Qaeda-linked militant group, Al-Shabaab.

President Mohamud has defended his decision to extend his tenure, saying constitutional amendments passed by parliament allowed him to remain in office for another year. His term ended in May.

He has argued that the extension would give his government time to prepare for Somalia’s first nationwide democratic elections, scheduled for April and May 2027.

However, his opponents have described the reforms as a power grab. They have also challenged the constitutional changes, which parliament approved in March despite a boycott by most opposition and regional parties.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that the amendments should not apply to Mohamud’s current term. It said he should have left office in May. The court also called on political parties to reach a new agreement within 30 days and hold elections within 90 days.

Before the ruling was published, the president’s office announced on Facebook that Mohamud had dismissed Chief Justice Bashe Yusuf Ahmed and appointed a replacement. It cited “concerns… about the need for an efficient and fair judiciary”.

However, the Supreme Court rejected the move, saying the president had no authority to remove the chief justice. The court accused Mohamud of attempting “to obstruct the administration of justice in the constitutional case filed before the Supreme Court”.

Former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire also accused the president of deploying troops to the court’s premises. Khaire told reporters that the president had “launched an assault on the Supreme Court and deployed troops to its premises” on Thursday.

“The chief justice and lawyers are being pursued in their homes for arrest, have been subjected to torture, and the court’s operations have been halted,” he added.

AFP said it could not independently verify the claims. However, images published by Somali media appeared to show military forces inside the court’s compound.

“Somalia stands at a dangerous juncture. The dismantling of our judiciary is a direct threat to the rule of law. I call on all sectors of Somali society to stand up now and defend Somalia’s constitutionalism,” Khaire said.

Violence broke out in Mogadishu in June, when political factions clashed over the proposed constitutional changes. Some opposition groups also claimed they were prevented from attending the parliamentary vote in March.

Meanwhile, Somalia continues to battle Al-Shabaab, which controls large areas of the country.

The security crisis has worsened as international donors cut funding to the military mission that has supported the country for nearly 20 years. Donors have expressed frustration over the lack of progress against the militants and the country’s prolonged political instability.

Uganda, the largest contributor to the African Union force, announced this week that it would withdraw all its troops by the end of 2027.

The United States has also cut all funding to a key United Nations (UN) logistics mission that supports the military coalition.