Somaliland has pushed back against claims that its recent diplomatic engagement with Israel involved agreements to host Israeli military facilities or resettle Palestinians displaced from Gaza, calling the allegations unfounded.
The denial followed comments by Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who said that Somaliland had accepted three conditions from Israel: allowing the resettlement of Palestinians, permitting the establishment of a military base along the Gulf of Aden, and joining the Abraham Accords to normalise relations with Israel.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said its contacts with Israel were “purely diplomatic” and carried out “in full respect of international law.” The ministry said no agreements existed on hosting foreign military facilities or on resettling Palestinians.
Somaliland’s foreign minister said no discussions had taken place on those issues but did not explicitly rule out future cooperation. Only participation in the Abraham Accords has been publicly acknowledged by both sides.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Tuesday that Somaliland would join the accords. He said Israel wanted to “support a democratic, moderate country, a Muslim country, that wants to join the Abraham Accords.”
Israel last week formally recognised Somaliland as an independent state, becoming the first country to do so since the region declared independence from Somalia in 1991. Somaliland has since operated its own administration, currency and security forces, but has not previously secured international recognition.
Somaliland President Abdurrahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as Cirro, is expected to visit Israel in the coming weeks.
Somalia’s president warned that Israel’s move “was not merely a diplomatic gesture but a cover for specific, high-stakes Israeli strategic objectives.” He said Israel would “export its problem in Gaza” to the Horn of Africa and described the recognition as opening “a box of evils in the world.”
Israel has not publicly outlined its reasons for recognising Somaliland.
Addressing regional reactions, Somaliland’s foreign minister said that some countries believed relations with Israel would cause instability, but said those concerns were unfounded.
More than 50 countries condemned Israel’s decision, while the African Union and the European Union said Somalia’s territorial integrity should be respected.
Somaliland’s president said on New Year’s Eve that “many more nations will soon formally recognise the Republic of Somaliland.”
Somalia continues to claim Somaliland as part of its territory.