Authorities in Somalia, Egypt, Turkey and Djibouti warned that any attempt to force the expulsion of Palestinians to Somaliland would be a violation of international principles, while pointing to direct links between Israel’s recent recognition of Somaliland and the crisis in Gaza. As Europa Press details, these governments are concerned that recognizing Somaliland could set a precedent that could facilitate forced displacement, an issue categorically rejected by the international community.
The Somali government expressed strong opposition to Israel’s formal recognition of Somaliland after it became the first United Nations member state to adopt the measure, Europa Press has published. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement placed the decision within the framework of the so-called Abraham Accords, an initiative pushed by the United States during Donald Trump’s administration to normalize relations between Israel and several Arab countries. The declaration marked the first time since Somaliland’s independence in 1991 that a UN member country recognized the breakaway state as a sovereign entity, a development that sparked immediate reaction.
Following the Israeli announcement, Somalia’s Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali held a telephone conversation with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelati; Türkiye, Hakan Fidan; and Djibouti, Abdolkader Husein Omar, according to Europa Press. At the end of the dialogue, foreign policy leaders released a joint statement reaffirming their support for the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia. In the same text, they rejected and unreservedly condemned the Israeli decision and reiterated their position not to allow any transformation of Somali territory or support for parallel entities.
The diplomatic heads of these countries said the Israeli move posed a threat to regional stability and the principles enshrined in international law and the United Nations Charter, Europa Press reported. They warned that the creation of parallel entities contradicts international legitimacy and endangers security, stability and development efforts in the region. The statement highlighted concerns about the possibility that Israel’s decision could destabilize the Horn of Africa.
Researchers at Israel’s Institute of National Security Studies (INSS) have highlighted the strategic value that recognition of Somaliland represents for Israel given its geographical location near areas controlled by the Houthi insurgency in Yemen, Europa Press reports. This geopolitical factor adds a component of strategic interest beyond formal recognition.
According to information published by Europa Press and citing previous reports by CNN, various sources said that at some point Israel considered the option of forcibly relocating the Palestinian population from Gaza to Somaliland. Foreign ministers dealing with the matter have spoken out against this scenario. The joint statement distributed after the four ministers’ meeting highlighted concerns that an agreement with Somaliland would be used to legitimize forced and illegal relocation of Palestinians, a link they link to the current war in Gaza.
In the message sent by the four ministers, they underlined their categorical rejection of any attempt to change the demographic composition of the Palestinian territories through displacement, a position that they believe is supported by the vast majority of countries in the world. The text said: “The parties emphasize the categorical rejection of any plan to expel the Palestinian people from their territory, which the vast majority of countries in the world reject in form, content and categorically,” according to Europa Press.
The Israeli government had briefly recognized Somaliland’s independence in 1960, in the few days that the territory existed as an autonomous state, a circumstance that took place in a very different context than today. Since Somaliland’s declaration of independence in 1991, the territory has maintained some diplomatic contacts with various governments, but until Israel’s announcement, no United Nations member country had officially recognized the separatist state, underscoring the uniqueness of Israel’s decision, Europa Press explained.
Finally, in the statement, the foreign ministers of Somalia, Egypt, Turkey and Djibouti reiterated their support for the international principles that defend the unity of Somalia, questioned the legality of Israel’s recognition of Somaliland and rejected any attempt to impose a “new reality” or create separate entities that do not have the support of multilateral organizations.
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