Somalia’s Supreme Court rejected the president’s term extension and ordered an agreed election framework and accelerated elections. Former Chief Justice Bashe Yusuf Ahmed says more than 300 security personnel occupied the court after its ruling.
Somalia’s Supreme Court rejected President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term extension on 5 November, ruling that constitutional changes approved in March could not lengthen his existing mandate. The court said that mandate ended on 15 May and allowed only the cabinet to remain in a caretaker role, limited to day-to-day duties.
In a November 10 report, Al Jazeera quoted former Chief Justice Bashe Yusuf Ahmed as saying more than 300 security personnel had “militarily occupied” the Supreme Court after its ruling against the extension.
The judges ordered the sides involved in elections to agree on a workable, consensus-based electoral framework within 30 days of the ruling and hold elections within 90 days. That puts the court’s election deadline in early February, ahead of the electoral commission’s planned votes.
Parliament approved the revised constitution on 4 March, and Mohamud signed it four days later. It provides for five-year presidential and parliamentary terms, replacing the four-year term applicable to his existing mandate. The judges said longer terms could cover officials already in office only if the constitution explicitly said so; they found no such provision.
Former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed filed the case on 11 October, seeking to overturn the amendments and decisions taken under them. The judges dismissed his challenge to the amendment process because of rules limiting who could bring that kind of case. They heard the term-extension challenge under Article 191, which gives the Supreme Court the powers of a Constitutional Court until a separate court is established.
Mohamud said the reforms were necessary to move toward fully democratic elections, replacing a clan-based system in which elders select representatives. Opposition groups accused him of using the changes to prolong his rule, the BBC said in its November 6 report.
On 4 November, Mohamud dismissed Ahmed and appointed Ahmed’s predecessor, Ibrahim Idle Suleiman, to replace him. In a separate decision the following day, the Supreme Court declared the dismissal null and void, saying the president lacked constitutional authority to remove the chief justice in that manner. The court said removal required a judicial council recommendation and a parliamentary vote.
The presidency said the dismissal followed complaints about the administration of justice and was intended to achieve a just and transparent judiciary. The court disputed the claim that judges had complained and accused the presidency of interfering with judicial independence and trying to obstruct the constitutional case.
Former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire also accused Mohamud on 5 November of deploying security forces to the court and attempting to arrest its chief justice. AFP said it could not independently verify the reported deployment.
The commission’s October timetable puts both national votes later than the court’s deadline.
| Election | Scheduled date |
|---|---|
| Both houses of parliament | 15 April 2027 |
| President | 15 May |
Under the government’s plan, voters would elect lawmakers through registered parties, and parliament would choose the president. The Somali Future Council, which includes opposition leaders and the Puntland and Jubaland administrations, proposes direct voting while retaining clan-based seat allocations. It also wants federal member states to share responsibility for running elections.
How the presidency and electoral commission would respond to the ruling remained unclear on 5 November. Sharif welcomed the decision and urged agreement. He had previously warned that proceeding without consensus risked parallel elections, political divisions, internal conflict and a threat to Somalia’s statehood.
Mohamud invited opposition groups and civil society representatives to talks in Mogadishu on 14–18 November. The opposition National Salvation Forum named a three-member team to negotiate the agenda, while opposition leaders questioned Mohamud’s legitimacy to convene the discussions.
Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni rejected the proposed talks and called instead for an interim council to oversee elections. He cited objections to both the electoral commission and the constitution on which the process rests.
Officials signed the 2026–2027 program in London on 4 November, Armenia’s Defense Ministry said. The sides also agreed to hold their next consultations in Yerevan.
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Police identified a senior official as SU on 5 November 2026, after three officers were arrested and the president dismissed his chief of staff. Investigators allege SU approved the interception. On 9 November 2026, Indonesia’s legal affairs minister said the government would tighten controls on surveillance equipment to prevent misuse and consider checking the presidential palace for hidden devices.
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The court ruled that the deadline for bringing an accused person before a magistrate begins at detention, not when an investigating agency records a formal arrest.
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Update ·
Revised from the day's reports.
Update ·
Added the former chief justice’s account that security personnel occupied the court after the ruling.
