Ousted Chief Justice Baashe Yusuf Ahmed said Saturday he does not feel safe in Mogadishu and demanded that troops leave the Supreme Court as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud attended a replacement swearing-in.
At a news conference in the capital, Ahmed challenged the legality of his dismissal and accused Mohamud of interfering in the judiciary. “I do not feel safe in my country’s capital,” he said, according to Somalia Today. “I am not defending my position; I am defending the law. The president must withdraw the 300 soldiers he has deployed at the Supreme Court.” The number of troops Ahmed cited has not been independently verified.
Mohamud attended the swearing-in of Ibrahim Idle Suleiman as chief justice on November 7, Somalia Today and Garowe Online reported. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, parliamentary leaders and the justice minister also attended. The presidency announced Ahmed’s dismissal and Suleiman’s appointment on November 4, saying the decision followed complaints about the administration of justice. The Supreme Court declared that dismissal void on November 5, saying the president had no authority to remove its chief unilaterally.
On X, Garowe Online highlighted Ahmed’s line that he was defending the law rather than a position. Hiiraan Online carried a Somali language report summarizing his claim that the removal threatened judicial independence. These posts are not independent confirmation of troop numbers or court security.
The November 5 Constitutional Division ruling said Mohamud’s mandate ended on May 15 and parliament’s on April 14, limited the government to caretaker duties, and ordered stakeholders to agree an electoral framework within 30 days and hold elections within 90 days. The attorney general’s office rejected the ruling on Friday, saying judges failed to resolve preliminary objections and that the decision had no legal effect. Sharif Sheikh Ahmed’s lawyer, Zakariye Ismail Nur, said the attorney general could not suspend a Supreme Court ruling, Radio Risaala reported via Somalia Today.
Mereja Media emailed written questions to [email protected] on November 5, before Saturday’s remarks, on the ruling, the dismissal and Suleiman’s appointment. Villa Somalia had not replied as of November 7 evening Eastern Time.
Sources
- Somalia Today, Baashe Yusuf Ahmed safety claims and Idle swearing-in, Nov 7
- Garowe Online (@GaroweOnline), Ahmed remarks on X, Nov 7
- Hiiraan Online (@hiiraan), Somali language report on Ahmed statement, Nov 7
- Associated Press, Supreme Court term ruling, Nov 5 to 6
- Mereja Media written questions to [email protected], sent Nov 5; no reply as of Nov 7 evening ET