Somaliland’s government has strongly denied recent claims that it agreed to host displaced Palestinians or allow an Israeli military base on its territory in exchange for diplomatic recognition by Israel. Officials in the breakaway region said the allegations were false and aimed at misleading the international community amidst diplomatic developments.
The controversy stems from statements made by Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who told international media that Somaliland accepted three conditions linked to Israel’s recognition of its independence. These purported conditions included the resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza, establishment of a military base along the Gulf of Aden, and joining the Abraham Accords. Somaliland’s foreign ministry dismissed the first two as untrue.
In an official statement, Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it “firmly rejects false claims” about hosting Palestinians or foreign troops. It emphasised that the region’s engagement with Israel has been “purely diplomatic” and conducted within international law. Officials described the allegations as attempts to undermine Somaliland’s diplomatic progress.
The denial comes shortly after Israel became the first country to formally recognise Somaliland’s self-declared independence, a move that ignited protests and condemnation in Somalia and by multiple nations worldwide. Somalia’s government insists Somaliland remains part of its sovereign territory, and it has vehemently criticised Israel’s recognition as a violation of international law.
Regional responses have been mixed, with many African and Muslim-majority countries denouncing the recognition and any suggestion of Palestinian relocation as harmful and destabilising. International bodies have also reiterated the need to respect Somalia’s territorial integrity, reflecting widespread concern over shifting diplomatic alliances and their potential impact on regional stability.
Analysts note that Somaliland’s strategic location along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait — a key maritime route between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean — has heightened interest from foreign powers, but no credible evidence has emerged linking official agreements for military bases or population resettlement. The region’s leadership maintains that cooperation with external partners remains focused on diplomacy and international recognition.
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