Somaliland rejects Somalia president’s claims of Palestinian resettlement, Israeli military base

[Deeq A.]

#Somaliland rejects Somalia president’s claims of #Palestinian resettlement, #Israeli military base

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somaliland has rejected claims by #Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud that Somaliland agreed to resettle Palestinians and host an Israeli military base in exchange for diplomatic recognition from Israel.

Speaking to Al Jazeera on Wednesday, President Mohamud said Somali intelligence indicates that Somaliland accepted three conditions allegedly set by Israel: the resettlement of Palestinians, the establishment of an Israeli military base along the Gulf of Aden, and Somaliland’s accession to the Abraham Accords.

In a statement issued on 1 January 2026, Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed the allegations as false.

“The Government of the Republic of Somaliland firmly rejects the false claims made by the President of Somalia alleging the resettlement of Palestinians or the establishment of military bases in Somaliland,” the statement said.

In the interview with Al Jazeera, President Mohamud further claimed that Somalia has intelligence suggesting an existing, covert Israeli presence in Somaliland, arguing that any formal recognition would merely normalize activities already underway.

He also accused Israel of seeking to forcibly displace Palestinians to the Horn of Africa and said its presence in the region is driven by strategic interests rather than peace.

According to Mohamud, Israel aims to exert influence over key maritime routes of commercial and economic significance, including the Red Sea, the Gulf, and the Gulf of Aden. He added that what he described as Israel’s “unexpected and strange” recognition of Somaliland could have implications for Palestinians in Gaza.

Qaran News