Somalia opposition challenges new constitution in court
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed filed a case seeking to annul the charter approved in March without opposition MPs.
Somalia’s Supreme Court has given the federal government until Thursday to respond to a legal challenge filed by opposition leader Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. Ahmed seeks to annul a new constitution that was approved in March.
Regional states and the opposition consider the charter unilateral, claiming it was drafted by the current leadership without opposition members of parliament. President Hassan Sheikh hailed the document as a new chapter for Somalia, but Puntland, Jubaland, and the opposition do not recognize it, continuing to uphold the 2012 draft constitution.
The opposition's case is seen by many as a test of the court’s independence, as allegations of executive influence over the judiciary have persisted for years. The federal government is reportedly seeking ways to win the case or halt the proceedings.
Why it mattersThe opposition and regional states are challenging the legitimacy of the new constitution, which affects the country's governance structure.