On Nov 5 a five-judge panel of Somalia's Supreme Court ruled that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's term ended on May 15, 2026, that the March constitutional amendments could not lengthen sitting officials' terms, and that elections must be held within 90 days.
Two or more independent outlets report it. We'll update this page as reporting comes in, then say whether it held up.
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Who's reporting it
- Garowe Online, 2026-11-05: The Constitutional Division found that amendments must state whether new terms apply to sitting institutions, so the four-year terms stand; the president's ended on May 15 and parliament's on April 14, with 30 days set for an election framework and 90 days for the vote. source
- Associated Press (via La Nacion), 2026-11-06: The judgment, reviewed by AP, says the move from four- to five-year terms did not hand current officeholders an extra year, limits the government to routine business and orders elections within 90 days. source
- Africanews (AFP), 2026-11-05: The court held that the amendments did not cover Mohamud's current term and that he should have stepped down in May. source
History
- 2026-11-10: Corroborated. Garowe Online, AP (which says it reviewed the five-page judgment) and AFP each report the ruling, the expired mandate and the 90-day deadline; the court also gave leaders 30 days to agree on an electoral model.