Kenya:
Somaliland has strongly denied accusations made by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud that it agreed to resettle Palestinians or allow an Israeli military base on its territory in exchange for diplomatic recognition from Israel.
The clarification comes after Israel became the first country to officially recognise Somaliland as an “independent and sovereign state”, a move that immediately sparked protests across Somalia and heightened political tensions in the region.
Speaking to Al Jazeera earlier this week, President Mohamud claimed, citing intelligence reports, that Somaliland had agreed to three major conditions in return for recognition:
1️⃣ Resettling Palestinians displaced by the Gaza conflict
2️⃣ Allowing Israel to establish a military base along the Gulf of Aden
3️⃣ Joining the Abraham Accords to normalise relations with Israel
However, Somaliland’s foreign ministry issued a firm rebuttal on Thursday, dismissing the first two claims as entirely false.
“The Government of the Republic of Somaliland firmly rejects false claims made by the President of Somalia alleging the resettlement of Palestinians or the establishment of military bases in Somaliland,” the ministry said in a statement on social media platform X.
The ministry stressed that its agreement with Israel is “purely diplomatic”, accusing Mogadishu of attempting to mislead the global community and undermine Somaliland’s growing international engagements.
Despite Somaliland’s denial, regional analysts believe Israel views the breakaway region as geopolitically significant because of its strategic location near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial maritime chokepoint close to Yemen. The area is especially sensitive given ongoing attacks from Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have repeatedly targeted Israel since the Gaza conflict began.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has since operated with its own government, currency and military while maintaining relative stability compared to conflict-ridden Somalia. Its position along one of the world’s busiest global trade routes has long made it an attractive strategic partner for global powers.