Somali Minister Alleges Israel Plans to Expel Gaza Palestinians to Somaliland
Somali Minister Alleges Israel Plans to Expel Gaza Palestinians to Somaliland
Somali Minister of Defence, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi has alleged that Israel is planning to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza to the breakaway region of Somaliland.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Fiqi claimed the Somali government has confirmed intelligence regarding a deal that involves the resettlement of Gazans in exchange for diplomatic and military support.
This development follows Israel’s landmark decision in December 2025 to become the first nation to formally recognize Somaliland’s independence, a move Somalia views as a direct violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
According to the Somali government, the agreement between Israel and Somaliland reportedly includes three primary conditions. In addition to the resettlement of displaced Palestinians, the deal allegedly permits Israel to establish a permanent military base on the Somaliland coast, overlooking the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
Furthermore, Somaliland has reportedly agreed to join the Abraham Accords to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel, further isolating the central government in Mogadishu and shifting the geopolitical landscape of the Horn of Africa.
The allegations have been met with swift denials from both Israel and Somaliland officials. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that the relocation of Palestinians was never part of the formal recognition agreement, while Somaliland representatives dismissed the claims as propaganda intended to undermine their pursuit of international legitimacy.
However, despite the denials, some reports suggest that the establishment of an Israeli military facility remains a point of active discussion, heightening concerns among regional neighbors and global powers regarding the militarization of the Red Sea corridor.
The international response has been one of deep concern, with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League condemning the recognition of Somaliland as a threat to Somalia’s unity. Regional actors, including the Houthi movement in Yemen, have also issued warnings, stating that any Israeli military presence in the Gulf of Aden would be viewed as a direct provocation.
As tensions rise, the Somali government is calling for urgent intervention from the United Nations and the African Union to prevent the implementation of what it describes as a destabilizing and illegal resettlement plan.
