Somalia and Somaliland Deny U.S. and Israeli Plans for Palestinian Resettlement

Somalia and its breakaway region of Somaliland have dismissed reports suggesting that the United States and Israel approached them about resettling displaced Palestinians from Gaza. Officials from both governments have categorically denied any such discussions, with Somalia explicitly stating it would reject any proposal that undermines Palestinian sovereignty.

The claims, first reported by the Associated Press (AP), suggested that U.S. and Israeli officials had reached out to Sudan, Somalia, and Somaliland to explore the possibility of relocating Palestinians from war-torn Gaza to East Africa.

However, Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi refuted the allegations, stating:

“The Federal Government of Somalia has not received any such proposal, and we categorically reject any initiative that seeks to resettle Palestinians outside of their homeland. Palestinians have the right to live peacefully on their ancestral land.”

Somaliland’s Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir Adan also denied any knowledge of such discussions, saying:

“There are no talks with anyone regarding Palestinians.”

These denials come after Sudanese officials also rejected any proposal to accommodate displaced Palestinians, with a senior Sudanese government official telling Reuters that such a suggestion was “immediately rebuffed.”

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Editor’s note: Somaliland is an autonomous region in northern Somalia, which broke away and declared independence from Somalia in 1991. No foreign power recognises Somaliland’s sovereignty, but it is self-governing with an independent government, democratic elections and a distinct history.

Trump’s Controversial Plan and Regional Backlash

The reported discussions follow former U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion that Palestinians should be displaced from Gaza permanently, a proposal widely condemned by Arab nations, Palestinian leaders, and international organisations.

Trump’s plan, which included U.S. administration of Gaza and its reconstruction into a tourism hub, has been dismissed as ethnic cleansing by Palestinian officials. The Arab League and several African governments have also voiced strong opposition to any forced displacement of Palestinians.

“The Palestinians will not leave their land,” said Taher Al-Nono, a political adviser to Hamas, dismissing any suggestion of relocation.

The United Nations (UN) has also warned against any forced displacement, with Michele Zaccheo, a UN spokesperson in Geneva, stating:

“Any plan that leads to forced displacement or ethnic cleansing violates international law, and we strongly oppose it.”

Meanwhile, Israeli ministers, particularly Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have publicly stated that Israel is working to encourage the voluntary departure of Palestinians from Gaza, though they deny any forcible removals.

Somalia and Somaliland’s Position on Palestinian Rights

Somalia has historically supported the Palestinian cause and is a member of the Arab League, which has rejected any forced resettlement plans. The Somali government maintains that Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and that any resolution to the conflict must be based on international law and Palestinian self-determination.

Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but remains unrecognised internationally, has not taken an official stance on the Palestinian issue but has also denied involvement in any discussions regarding resettlement.

Analysts believe that Somalia’s strong Arab ties and Somaliland’s aspirations for international recognition make it unlikely that either government would engage in such a controversial arrangement.

“Somalia has consistently stood with Palestine and would not entertain any discussions that compromise Palestinian sovereignty,” said a senior Somali government official.

Regional and Global Implications

This controversy highlights broader geopolitical tensions in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East. While the U.S. and Israel have denied any concrete resettlement agreements, reports indicate that Israel has been exploring options for Palestinian emigration as part of its long-term strategy for Gaza.

However, with African nations rejecting the plan outright, it remains unclear whether the U.S. and Israel will continue pushing for alternative relocation options.

For now, Somalia, Somaliland, and Sudan have firmly dismissed any involvement, reinforcing their stance that Palestinians must remain in their homeland.