Somalia's top court rejects president's term extension amid political crisis

Somalia's Supreme Court ruled Thursday that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud unlawfully extended his term beyond its May expiration, escalating a constitutional crisis. The court also voided Mohamud's dismissal of Chief Justice Bashe Yusuf Ahmed and ordered political leaders to hold elections within 90 days. The ruling follows months of tension over Mohamud's March parliamentary approval of constitutional changes to extend his mandate, which opposition groups say undermines democratic progress.

Mohamud argues the reforms are necessary to move Somalia toward fully democratic elections beyond the clan-based system used since 2012, citing the nation's decades of civil conflict. The standoff between the presidency and judiciary deepened when security forces were reported at the Supreme Court compound, though the exact extent remained unclear. The political turmoil complicates Somalia's battle against al-Shabab militants and creates uncertainty over an electoral timetable opposed by opposition groups and regional administrations.