Is Israel planning to dump Palestinians, displaced by its war in Gaza, in Somaliland on the Horn of Africa?
So much has been confirmed by Somalia’s Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, confirming suspicions that the Jewish state’s recognition of the breakaway territory has an underlying ‘strategic objective’.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Fiqi said he has received “confirmed information” that Israel has plans to forcibly displace Palestinians to Somaliland. He warned that any such move would be a “serious violation” of international law.
Somaliland separated from Somalia in 1991, but failed to gain any recognition from the United Nations. Israel is the first country to diplomatically recognise the breakaway nation’s independence. A decision that has raised hackles in the Somali government.
“Somaliland has been claiming the secession issue for a long time, over the past three decades, and not one country in the world has recognised it,” Somalia’s President Hassan Mohamud told Al Jazeera.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has condemned Israel’s recognition and are backing Palestine. There is also strong opposition from the African Union.
“Israel has long had goals and plans to divide countries — maybe for 20 years — and it wants to divide the map of the Middle East and control its countries. This is why they found this separatist group in northwestern Somalia,” he said.
He also alleged that Israel’s is seeking to establish a military base near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, hoping to “destabilise the region.”
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the displacement of Palestinians to Somaliland was “not part of our agreement. I think we have a lot of topics in the field of politics, security, development, and others that we will advance with Somaliland … And I can say this is not part of our agreement,” he said.
