The Supreme Court panel's Nov 5 ruling that the president's, parliament's and government's mandates have expired has legal force.
Claimed by: Supreme Court Constitutional Division and opposition leaders; disputed by Somalia's Attorney General's office
Credible outlets report incompatible versions. 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 court declared steps taken by federal institutions after their terms ended unconstitutional and invalid, and said the government may handle only day-to-day administration. source
- Dawan Africa , 2026-11-06: The Attorney General's office called the decision 'not in line with the law' and without legal effect, said the panel broke the court's structure because the chief justice did not preside, and said it would take legal action. source
- Dawan Africa , 2026-11-05: The opposition Somali Salvation Forum, including Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Ali Khaire, welcomed the court's position that the government's term is four years and called for consensus elections within 90 days. source
History
- 2026-11-10: Conflicting. The five judges say actions taken after the mandates ended are invalid and the government is a caretaker; the Attorney General's office says the ruling has no legal effect because the chief justice did not preside and the panel went beyond the case filed. Dawan Africa notes the ruling says it considered the Attorney General's objection.