Bashe Yusuf Ahmed was Tuesday sworn in as Somalia’s new Chief Justice at the Presidential Palace Villa Somalia in the capital Mogadishu, Radio Dalsan reports.
Present at the swearing in was President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and Speaker of the House of the People Mohamed Mursal Sheikh Abdirahman.
Ahmed was appointed CJ on Sunday upon the sacking of Ibrahim Idle Suleiman in what the President said was part of judiciary reforms.
Somalia nationals on social media expressed mixed reaction over the appointment of the new Chief Justice who had earlier championed for a “Somaliland Republic”.
Opposition politician Abdirahman Abdishakur no Tuesday questioned the independence of the judiciary
“It’s obvious from this swearing in the level of thrust for power grabbing that is really going on. Nothing but it would place the independence of the judiciary in serious jeopardy. Getting control over the Supreme Court means getting control over judges and public prosecutors” Abdishakur tweeted.
The former CJ Suleiman had served as head the Judiciary for two years after his appointment by Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in 2016.
