Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Wednesday dismissed the country’s Supreme Court Chief Justice, Baashe Yusuf Ahmed, and reinstated his predecessor, Ibrahim Idle Suleiman, following complaints from judges and legal professionals regarding the justice system.
A statement issued by the presidency said the decision was prompted by grievances raised by judges, judicial staff and members of the legal community, who had called for a transparent, fair and impartial judiciary.
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The presidency said Mohamud had ordered a comprehensive reform of the judiciary to ensure that the Somali people receive “a transparent and reliable justice system.”
However, the presidential statement did not detail any specific allegations against Baashe, nor did it clarify whether disciplinary action had been taken against him or whether his dismissal was linked to recent rulings issued by the Supreme Court.
Mohamud wished Suleiman success in the demanding task entrusted to him, urging him to protect judicial independence, strengthen the rule of law and guarantee equal justice for all citizens.
The change in the judiciary’s leadership comes less than three months after the Supreme Court, under Baashe’s leadership, annulled the results of the Galmudug parliamentary and local council elections held on July 30.
Bashe Yusuf Ahmed (left) and Ibrahim Idle Suleiman in a composite image. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud dismissed Ahmed and reappointed Suleiman as chief justice of Somalia’s Supreme Court on November 4, 2026.
The court ruled that the election had violated constitutional requirements and electoral laws based on transparency, freedom and impartiality, and ordered the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to hold fresh elections.
It also instructed the officials holding office to remain in their positions until lawful officials were elected, to avoid an administrative vacuum in the region.
The electoral commission accepted the court’s order and held the rerun election on Sept. 30. The Supreme Court later formally upheld the results after no complaints were filed within the period prescribed by law.
The change in Supreme Court leadership also came as the court was considering a politically sensitive constitutional case filed by former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.
Sharif filed his case on Oct. 11, asking the court to annul amendments made to Somalia’s Provisional Constitution and decisions based on them. The Supreme Court accepted the case the following day.
Sharif argued that the constitutional amendments and the 2027 electoral framework had been approved through an unlawful process. He warned that taking measures without reaching an inclusive political agreement could lead to parallel elections and further fuel instability in the country.
Although some Somali media outlets linked Baashe’s dismissal to the constitutional case before the judiciary, citing unnamed sources, the presidency did not mention the matter, and there is no independent evidence that the case prompted his removal.
The new appointment returns Suleiman to the leadership of the Supreme Court eight years after he was removed by then-President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo.
Farmaajo dismissed Suleiman on May 27, 2018, and appointed Baashe to the position. Suleiman later became Mohamud’s legal affairs adviser when the president returned to office in 2022.
