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Former Somali Supreme Court Chief Justice Baashe Yusuf Ahmed has said his dismissal was linked to several court decisions, including cases concerning the Galmudug state election and a constitutional dispute over the president's term in office.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Baashe alleged his dismissal was accompanied by pressure, threats and intimidation against judges, which he attributed to politically sensitive and constitutional cases brought before the court.
"The alleged dismissal, the pressure, threats and intimidation directed at judges stem from several overlapping cases," Baashe said.
He said the Supreme Court had dismissed a case concerning the election held in Galmudug State, describing the ruling as one of the decisions underlying the current dispute.
Baashe also said the court had heard and ruled on a constitutional case concerning the president's term in office on the same day his dismissal was announced.
"On the very day the decision announcing my dismissal was issued, the court heard and ruled on a constitutional case, determining that the president's term had ended on 15 May," he said.
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He argued that judicial decisions involving political and constitutional matters had triggered the pressure he alleged was being exerted on judges.
He also criticised the response to the court's rulings, accusing those opposed to the decisions of attempting to shift responsibility elsewhere.
"When a court delivers a decision in accordance with justice, one of the characteristics of authoritarianism is to place blame where it does not belong," Baashe said.
His remarks follow the announcement of his removal from office, which he maintains was connected to the Supreme Court's handling of electoral and constitutional disputes.
Baashe did not present independently verifiable evidence in his statement establishing a direct connection between the court's rulings and his dismissal or substantiating his allegations of threats and intimidation against judges.