Somaliland rejects claims it will host Palestinian refugees

Somaliland’s Foreign Ministry has denied claims that it had accepted to resettle Palestinian refugees and host Israeli military bases, reports Al Jazeera on January 1st.

The statement was a response to allegations made by Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who said that Somaliland had accepted three conditions set by Israel, with the third one being joining the Abraham Accords.

Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991, in the midst of a civil war, but it has since struggled to find international partners. Benjamin Netanyahu officially announced Israel had recognised the breakaway state’s sovereignty on December 26th, making it the first country to do so. He also stated that Somaliland was planning to join the Abraham Accords in order to normalise relations with Israel. Somaliland’s President Abdurrahman Mohamed Abdullahi is also reportedly planning to visit Israel.

Somaliland’s position in the Horn of Africa makes it a strategic partner for Israel, as it maintains control over the Gulf of Aden, the gateway to the Red Sea. Yemen’s Houthis have also imposed a naval blockade on ships associated with Israel, making it more pressing for Israel to find regional partners.

Somalia reacted angrily to Israel’s recognition, with its president stating that the move was “not merely a diplomatic gesture but a cover for specific, high-stakes Israeli strategic objectives“. Somalia has rejected any claim to independence and continues to consider the region as part of its territory. The African Union and the European Union have seemingly sided with Somalia, calling for its territorial integrity to be respected. The Houthis also declared that any Israeli presence in Somaliland would be considered a military target.

Al Jazeera, Maghrebi.org