Somalia’s Supreme Court chief urges judges to uphold integrity and accountability

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Supreme Court chairman, Ibrahim Idle Suleiman, has urged judges and court employees to uphold professional integrity, administrative transparency and accountability as part of efforts to improve the country’s judicial system.

Suleiman made the remarks during a meeting with judges and staff of the Supreme Court in Mogadishu, where discussions focused on improving internal operations, strengthening institutional management and enhancing the delivery of judicial services.

Addressing the gathering, the chief justice stressed the importance of administrative efficiency, professional discipline and the fulfilment of individual responsibilities, according to a statement from the court.

He called on judges and employees to carry out their duties with honesty, transparency and a strong sense of responsibility while respecting the institution’s rules and working procedures.

Suleiman also emphasised the need to strengthen cooperation, mutual understanding and coordination among the court’s various departments to ensure an efficient and well-organised working environment.

He said effective teamwork and shared responsibility were essential to improving the quality of judicial services and strengthening public confidence in the country’s judicial institutions.

The Supreme Court chairman further urged judges and employees to protect the reputation and dignity of the institution by maintaining high standards of professional conduct, integrity and accountability.

The meeting comes as Somalia’s judicial institutions face scrutiny over questions surrounding judicial independence, constitutional procedures and the leadership of the country’s highest court.

Suleiman’s appointment followed the removal of former Supreme Court chairman Baashe Yusuf Ahmed in November, a development that prompted criticism from international human rights and judicial independence experts.

The experts called for respect for judicial independence and constitutional safeguards, raising concerns about the circumstances surrounding the former chief justice’s dismissal.

The Supreme Court plays a central role in interpreting the law and addressing constitutional and legal disputes in Somalia.