Former Supreme Court chairman Baashe Yusuf Ahmed says threats will not silence him as a growing confrontation with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud deepens Somalia's constitutional crisis over judicial independence and election deadlines.
MOGADISHU (Somali Report) — Former Somali Supreme Court chairman Baashe Yusuf Ahmed has vowed not to be intimidated by threats against him and other judges, as a growing dispute between the country's judiciary and executive branch deepens a constitutional crisis over presidential authority and the electoral process.
Baashe said threats and intimidation would not prevent him and fellow judges from carrying out their constitutional duties or defending the independence of the judiciary.
Speaking amid the escalating confrontation between the presidency and the Supreme Court, he said threats to his life would not silence him or force him to comply with what he described as unlawful actions.
He stressed that judges remained committed to upholding the constitution, human rights and the rule of law.
"No one is above the law. The constitution must stand above any power exercised unlawfully, and the rule of law must prevail over the rule of individuals," Baashe said, adding that their resolve would not weaken and that they would perform their duties without fear or favour.
The dispute intensified after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud removed Baashe from his position on November 4 and appointed lawyer Ibrahim Idle Suleiman as his successor. The presidency cited complaints relating to the administration and functioning of the judiciary as the reason for the dismissal.
A day later, the Supreme Court issued a ruling challenging the extension of the terms of the president and federal parliament, saying constitutional amendments setting five-year mandates for state institutions did not automatically apply to the current officeholders.
The court gave political leaders 30 days to reach an agreement on an electoral framework and ordered that elections be held within 90 days.
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The Supreme Court also ruled that Baashe's removal had not followed constitutional procedures and undermined judicial independence, further escalating the dispute over the president's authority to dismiss the court's chairman.
The competing positions have raised questions about the constitutional powers of the presidency, the independence of the judiciary and the authority to determine the legality of appointments to senior state offices.
On November 8, Baashe said he no longer felt safe in Mogadishu, accusing the government of deploying a large security force to the Supreme Court premises in an attempt to intimidate judges.
He claimed that nearly 300 soldiers and 30 armed vehicles had been sent to the court compound. The figures have not been independently verified.
The Somali Future Council and opposition politicians have also criticised the government's actions, calling for respect for judicial independence and compliance with the Supreme Court's decisions.
The confrontation comes at a sensitive moment for Somalia, where disagreements over constitutional amendments, presidential term limits and the future electoral system have already fuelled tensions between the federal government and opposition groups.
The implementation of the court's ruling remains uncertain, with the dispute threatening to deepen divisions over the country's constitutional order and the transition to the next government.
The presidency's November 4 decision and the Supreme Court's subsequent ruling have exposed competing interpretations of constitutional authority, leaving Somalia facing a potentially prolonged institutional standoff.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
