The small East African coastal region of Somaliland has been making international headlines after several high-profile Republicans in the United States endorsed a bill to recognize it as an independent state.
However, this development is overshadowed by reports that Israel has reached out to Somaliland as a possible location to resettle Palestinians it plans to expel from Gaza. Locals and analysts alike are voicing concerns that this plan could inflame the region and have severe consequences.
Ahmed Dahir Saban, a 37-year-old high school teacher from Somaliland, expressed his concerns, stating, “the people of Palestine cannot be forced from their blessed homeland. What the Americans and Israelis are doing is ethnic cleansing, and we in Somaliland want no part of it.”
He believes that accepting forcibly relocated Palestinians would risk violence from armed groups like Al-Shabab and Daesh, which could exploit public anger and expand their influence in the region.
Jethro Norman, a senior researcher with the Danish Institute for International Studies, shares similar concerns. He notes that Al-Shabab and IS-Somalia have consistently framed their struggle in terms of resisting foreign interference and protecting Somali sovereignty.
A Palestinian relocation program, especially one perceived as externally imposed and aligned with Israeli wishes, would provide these groups with a potent propaganda tool.
Somaliland’s human rights record is also under scrutiny. The region has been accused of suppressing dissent and freedom of expression, with media outlets raided and journalists arrested.
Moreover, Somaliland authorities were accused of war crimes in 2023 for indiscriminately shelling homes, schools, and hospitals in Las Anod, resulting in hundreds of deaths and displacements.
US President Donald Trump addressed the issue, saying, “we’re looking into that right now… Good question, actually, and another complex one, but we’re working on that right now.”
Republican Senator Ted Cruz penned a letter to Trump calling for Somaliland’s recognition, citing its ties with Israel and support for the Abraham Accords.
However, Somalia’s ambassador to the US warned that any infringement of Somalia’s sovereignty would empower armed groups and destabilize the Horn of Africa region.
The potential forced relocation of Palestinians to Somaliland has sparked significant controversy and concern. Analysts warn that recognizing Somaliland could lead to catastrophic ripple effects in Somalia and beyond its borders.
Samar al-Bulushi, an associate professor of anthropology, notes that this deal symbolizes a lack of independence on the part of Somaliland leaders, highlighting the power asymmetries between African leaders and global powers.
The proposed plan to forcibly relocate Palestinians to Somaliland has sparked significant concern among locals and analysts. Many believe that this plan would not only fuel violence in the region but also empower armed groups like Al-Shabab and Daesh.
These groups have consistently framed their struggle in terms of resisting foreign interference and protecting Somali sovereignty, and the relocation plan would provide them with a potent propaganda tool.
- Increased Violence: The plan could lead to catastrophic ripple effects in Somalia and beyond its borders, risking turning a smolder into an open flame.
- Empowering Armed Groups: Armed groups could exploit public anger against the relocation plan to expand their influence and territorial control in the region.
- Regional Instability: The plan could destabilize the entire Horn of Africa region, empowering armed groups and fueling further conflict.
Locals in Somaliland are divided on the issue, with some welcoming the potential recognition of Somaliland as an independent state, while others are strongly opposed to the forced relocation of Palestinians.
Ahmed Dahir Saban, a high school teacher, stated that Palestinians would always be accepted with open arms in Somaliland, but any attempts to forcibly relocate them would never be accepted.
“The people of Palestine cannot be forced from their blessed homeland. What the Americans and Israelis are doing is ethnic cleansing, and we in Somaliland want no part of it,” he said.
The Israeli embassy in the US did not respond to queries. Samar al-Bulushi, an associate professor of anthropology, noted that the deal symbolizes a lack of independence on the part of Somaliland leaders, highlighting the power asymmetries between African leaders and global powers.
