Somalia's Supreme Court rules president's term extension unlawful, deepening crisis

The short version

• The Supreme Court ruled that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud unlawfully extended his term, deepening Somalia's political crisis.[BBC News]
• The court ordered political leaders to agree an electoral plan within 30 days and hold elections within 90 days.[BBC News]
• The ruling came a day after the president dismissed Chief Justice Bashe Yusuf Ahmed, which the court declared null and void.[BBC News]
• Former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire accused the president of deploying security forces to the court, a claim AFP could not verify.[BBC News]

Key facts

• Somalia's Supreme Court ruled that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud unlawfully extended his term.[BBC News]
• The court ordered leaders to agree on an electoral plan within 30 days and hold elections within 90 days.[BBC News]
• The president dismissed Chief Justice Bashe Yusuf Ahmed one day before the ruling.[BBC News]
• The court declared the dismissal null and void and accused the presidency of interfering with judicial independence.[BBC News]
• The presidency said the dismissal followed complaints about justice administration and aimed to improve the judiciary.[BBC News]
• Former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed welcomed the ruling and urged the president to adopt a consensus-based approach.[BBC News]
• Political analyst Adnan Abdi Ali said the ruling is unlikely to be implemented amid ongoing electoral disputes.[ABC News]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Somalia's top court rejects president's term extension amid political crisisBBC News - World
• Somalia’s top court rules president’s term extension is unlawful, deepening power struggleABC News - International
• Somalia’s top court rules president’s term extension is unlawful, deepening power struggleAssociated Press