East African lawyers urge Hassan Sheikh to respect Somalia’s Supreme Court
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Puntland Post
The East Africa Law Society (EALS) is urging Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to respect Supreme Court rulings and accuses him of threatening the independence of the judiciary. The Supreme Court held that the terms of the president and Parliament have expired and ordered an agreement within 30 days, then elections within 90 days, according to Puntland Post.
The East Africa Law Society (EALS) has called on Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Xasan Sheekh Maxamuud) to respect the rulings of the Supreme Court, Puntland Post reports. The East African lawyers accuse him of taking measures that threaten the independence of the judiciary.
They note that protection was withdrawn from the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Baashe Yuusuf Axmed, and that judges have been threatened. The Supreme Court had said the previous week that the four-year terms of the federal president and of both chambers of Parliament had come to an end. It asked the parties concerned to reach a consensual agreement within 30 days and to hold the election within 90 days. It also described as unlawful the head of state’s decision to remove Baashe Yuusuf Axmed.
The appeal comes amid the crisis opened by the removal of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on 4 November. The next day, the Court demanded elections within 90 days.
