Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has said the breakaway region of Somaliland agreed to resettle Palestinians and host an Israeli military base in exchange for diplomatic recognition by Israel, citing intelligence assessments, according to media.
Speaking in an interview with Qatari media, Mohamud described Israel’s reported recognition of Somaliland as unexpected, saying it came without prior indications and marked the first such move since the region declared independence from Somalia in 1991.
Somaliland has functioned as a de facto self governing entity for more than three decades but has not received international recognition. The federal government in Mogadishu rejects Somaliland’s claim to independence and considers any direct engagement with the region a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty.
Mohamud said Somalia has been pursuing reunification through peaceful means, adding that the alleged agreement undermines those efforts.
According to the president, Somaliland also agreed to join the Abraham Accords, a set of agreements signed in 2020 between Israel and several Arab states to normalise relations.
He said Israel’s interest in Somaliland is linked to its strategic ambitions in key waterways, including the Red Sea, the Gulf, and the Gulf of Aden, arguing that recognition merely formalises an existing covert presence in the region.
Mohamud further accused Israel of seeking to forcibly relocate Palestinians to Somalia, saying Tel Aviv’s actions were not driven by peace considerations.
The reported recognition has triggered growing international criticism, with several countries warning that the move violates international law and risks destabilising the region.
At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday, multiple members raised concerns that the recognition appeared aimed at facilitating the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza. Nearly all council members condemned the move, while the US abstained, saying its long standing position on Somaliland had not changed, according to media.