Somalia supreme court invalidates constitution changes
The court ordered elections within 90 days after striking down mandate extensions for the president and parliament.
Somalia’s Supreme Court on Thursday invalidated amendments to the 2012 Provisional Constitution, nullifying the extended mandates of the presidency and parliament. The court ordered that elections be held within 90 days.
This ruling followed President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s dismissal of Chief Justice Bashe Yusuf and his appointment of Ibrahim Eidle Suleiman, the president’s former legal adviser, as replacement. Five Supreme Court judges delivered the verdict, stating parliament ratified the amendments after its mandate expired, lacking legal authority for such changes.
Security forces stormed the Supreme Court premises shortly after the verdict and forced the chief justice out. The opposition welcomed the judgment and condemned the government’s actions as unlawful.
Why it mattersThe Supreme Court's ruling invalidates constitutional amendments and orders new elections, directly affecting the political leadership and electoral process in Somalia.