MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Chief Justice, Baashe Yusuf Ahmed, has said he no longer feels safe in the capital, Mogadishu, accusing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of deploying hundreds of security personnel around the Supreme Court in what he described as an attempt to intimidate the judiciary.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Baashe called on the president to immediately withdraw the security forces, claiming that approximately 300 armed personnel and 30 military vehicles had been stationed around the Supreme Court.
“Today, as the Chief Justice, I do not feel safe in the capital of my country,” Baashe said.
He alleged that the deployment included members of the Somali National Army, police, intelligence services and custodial forces, warning that their presence threatened judicial independence. The reported figures have not been independently verified.
“I am not defending a position; I am defending the law,” he said, urging President Hassan Sheikh to remove the security personnel from the court premises.
Baashe questioned how ordinary citizens and political leaders could feel secure if the head of the country’s highest judicial institution believed his own safety was under threat.
He also rejected allegations that the Supreme Court was acting in the interests of foreign governments, describing such claims as attempts to undermine public confidence in the judiciary.
The latest confrontation follows President Hassan Sheikh’s announcement three days earlier that he had dismissed Baashe and appointed former Chief Justice Ibrahim Idle Suleiman as his replacement. The presidency cited complaints from judges, court employees and legal professionals concerning the administration of justice.
However, the Supreme Court rejected the dismissal on November 5, declaring the decision unconstitutional and legally invalid. The court also accused the presidency of attempting to interfere with an ongoing constitutional case involving amendments to the mandates of federal institutions.
Baashe maintained that the president does not have unrestricted authority to remove the Chief Justice, arguing that any such decision must follow constitutional procedures involving the Judicial Service Commission and parliament.
“The President’s authority to remove the Chief Justice is not absolute,” he said.
He further argued that the timing of his dismissal raised serious concerns because the Supreme Court was handling a constitutional case directly affecting the president and other federal institutions.
According to Baashe, removing a judge while a case involving the president is under consideration could undermine public confidence in the country’s judicial system.
The dispute escalated further on Thursday when the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling rejecting the retroactive application of constitutional amendments that extended the terms of the president and parliament from four to five years.
The court ruled that the constitutional amendments could not be used to extend President Hassan Sheikh’s current mandate, stating that his four-year term had expired in May 2026. It rejected the federal government’s position that the president could remain in office until May 2027.
The Supreme Court also directed political stakeholders to reach an agreement on an electoral framework within 30 days and organize elections within 90 days.
The ruling followed a constitutional petition filed by former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who challenged the procedures through which the constitutional amendments were adopted and the legality of decisions based on those changes.
In a separate statement, the Supreme Court accused the presidency of attempting to obstruct the constitutional proceedings through the dismissal of Baashe.
The presidency, however, has defended its decision, saying the leadership change was intended to address concerns over judicial administration and improve transparency and efficiency within the justice system.
Baashe rejected the explanation, insisting that judicial independence is not a personal privilege for judges but a constitutional protection designed to safeguard citizens and ensure that the law is applied without political interference.
He called on President Hassan Sheikh to respect the Supreme Court’s rulings and allow the judiciary to perform its constitutional duties without intimidation.
The growing dispute between the presidency and the Supreme Court has raised serious questions about the independence of Somalia’s judiciary, the authority of constitutional institutions and the enforcement of court decisions.
The standoff comes at a politically sensitive time for Somalia, as disagreements over constitutional amendments, the presidential mandate and the framework for upcoming federal elections continue to deepen divisions among political stakeholders.
