Somalia: Supreme Court Chief Justice Ousted Ahead of Expected Ruling on Constitutional Amendments

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s outgoing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has removed Supreme Court Chief Justice Baashe Yusuf Ahmed from office, re-appointing Ibrahim Idle Suleiman as his successor.

The dismissal of Somalia’s Supreme Court Chief Justice Baashe Yusuf Ahmed was not solely linked to his decision to annul the results of the recent Galmudug regional election but was also intended to pre-empt a court ruling challenging controversial constitutional amendments, sources have told Garowe Online.

According to the sources, Baashe had been expected to travel to Mogadishu on Friday and announce a Supreme Court decision on Saturday concerning amendments to Somalia’s Provisional Constitution, which opposition figures have described as unconstitutional and unlawful.

The anticipated ruling was expected to deal a significant blow to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration, which has pushed ahead with constitutional changes despite strong objections from opposition leaders and other political stakeholders.

The sources said the president's decision to remove Baashe came ahead of the planned announcement, effectively preventing him from delivering the court's expected ruling.

Villa Somalia is now reportedly considering measures to prevent the dismissed chief justice from travelling to Mogadishu, according to the sources.

In a move signalling a change in the court's leadership, Hassan Sheikh on Wednesday night appointed Ibrahim Idle Suleiman, who previously served as the president's legal affairs secretary within the Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP), to replace Baashe.

The appointment has raised questions about the independence of the judiciary, particularly given the political dispute surrounding the constitutional amendments and the pending legal challenge.

Baashe is reportedly preparing a response to Villa Somalia following accusations directed at him by the presidency, preliminary reports indicate.

His removal adds another dimension to Somalia's deepening political crisis, with the federal government and opposition leaders already at odds over constitutional changes, the electoral process and the legitimacy of the country's political transition.

Neither Villa Somalia nor the Supreme Court had publicly provided a detailed explanation of the circumstances surrounding the dismissal and the anticipated court ruling.

GAROWE ONLINE