Farmajo appoints member of Somaliland’s opposition party as the Chief Justice of Somalia

President Abdullahi Farmaajo of Somalia, (Courtesy)

By: Abdirahman khalif‏ 

MOGADISHU—Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo appointed Bashe Yusuf Ahmed as chairman of the Supreme Court, as he overhauls the war torn nation’s judiciary.

President Farmajo says that latest change of guard part of his initial campaign pledge to have a proper and functioning justice system that caters for the needs of the country’s citizens.

Bashe Yussuf replaces Ibrahim Idle Suleiman, who was fired after a public outcry over several judicial decisions and allegations of corruption in the judiciary.

Suleiman was appointed chief justice in 2016 by former president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud replacing Aided Ilkahanaf who served as chief justice since 2011.

President Farmajo has asked lawmakers to expedite the nomination of a new judicial services commission, to replace one that was dissolved by former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamed before presidential elections in 2017.

Somalia’s government is rebuilding its institutions amid an insurgency by the Al-Shabaab militant group that’s been fighting to enforce its version of Islamic law since the fall of the Islamic Courts in 2006.

With support from African Union troops, Farmajo’s reign hopes to crush the militant group completely.

Last year, the out going  Chief Justice, Ibrahim Iidle Saleeban,  suspended 18 judges in the capital Mogadishu, in response to public complaints about their rulings.