Mazaj News (Web Desk) Somalia’s Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi has accused Israel of attempting to forcibly relocate Palestinians to the breakaway region of Somaliland, calling the alleged plan a “serious violation” of international law.
In an interview with Al Jazeera on Saturday, Fiqi stated that Somalia has “confirmed information that Israel intends to transfer Palestinians to [Somaliland].” His remarks come amid long-standing concerns from Somali officials that Israel might forcibly move Palestinians from Gaza to Somaliland—claims both Israel and the self-declared Somaliland government have denied.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not received United Nations recognition. Israel’s decision in December to recognize Somaliland made it the first country to officially acknowledge its independence.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told Israel’s Channel 14 last week that relocating Palestinians to Somaliland “was not part of our agreement.” He added, “We have many topics in politics, security, development, and others that we plan to pursue with Somaliland … but this is not included in our agreement.”
No further details on the agreement have been provided, and officials from Israel or Somaliland have not publicly shared specifics since the recognition announcement. A source close to the Somaliland government, speaking on condition of anonymity, also denied that the relocation of Palestinians was part of any deal but did not elaborate further.
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had previously told Al Jazeera that Somaliland had accepted Israel’s three conditions: the resettlement of Palestinians, the establishment of a military base along the Gulf of Aden coast, and joining the Abraham Accords to normalize relations with Israel.
Fiqi called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to revoke the recognition of the “separatist region,” describing the December move as a “direct attack” on Somalia’s sovereignty. He further accused Israel of pursuing a strategy of dividing regional states, asserting that recognizing Somaliland aligns with a broader pattern.
“Israel has long sought to fragment countries—perhaps for the past 20 years—and it aims to redraw the Middle East map to exert control over its nations. This is why they found this separatist movement in northwestern Somalia,” Fiqi told Al Jazeera.