Somali Defense Minister Ahmed Moalem Fichi accused Israel of planning to forcibly deport Palestinians to the breakaway region of Somaliland, denouncing the plan as a “serious violation” of international law.
Fitch called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to withdraw diplomatic recognition of the “separatist region” in an interview with Al Jazeera on Saturday, calling the move announced late last year a “direct attack” on Somalia’s sovereignty.
“Israel has long had goals and plans to break up the country – maybe 20 years ago – it wants to break up the map of the Middle East and control its country… That’s why they found this separatist group in northwest Somalia,” Fitch told Al Jazeera.
“We have confirmed that Israel has plans to move Palestinians and send them to [Somaliland],” he added without elaborating.
Fizi’s comments came as Netanyahu’s decision in December sparked a global outcry. recognize SomalilandA breakaway region of Somalia, encompassing the northwestern part of what was once the British protectorate.
The move makes Israel the first country in the world to recognize Somaliland as an independent state, and comes months after The Associated Press reported that Israeli officials had contacted parties in Somalia, Somaliland and Sudan to discuss using their territory to forcibly expel Palestinians in Gaza’s genocidal war.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohammed condemns Israeli move Tell Al Jazeera Somaliland accepted three conditions put forward by Israel: resettlement of Palestinians, establishing a military base on the Gulf of Aden coast, and joining the Abraham Accords to normalize relations with Israel.
Somaliland officials have deny consent resettled Palestinians from Gaza and said it had not yet discussed the establishment of Israeli military bases in the area.
But Fitch reiterated on Saturday that Israel “wants to destabilize the region by establishing a military base in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea.”
“I think this is an act of occupation that destabilizes the region,” Fitch added.
He also stressed that Israel has no legal right to confer legitimacy on an area within a sovereign state.
Somaliland first declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but has since failed to gain recognition from any United Nations member state.
Israel’s first global announcement triggered protest Somalia’s swift criticism dozens of countries and organizations such as Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and the African Union.
Fitch told Al Jazeera that the move was consistent with Israel’s decades-long goal of controlling the Middle East and accused Israel of exploiting separatist movements in the region. He added that about half of the region formerly known as Somaliland has been declared part of Somalia in the past two years.
The minister praised countries that have condemned Israel and pledged that Somalia would rely on all diplomatic and legal means to reject Israeli “encroachments”.
He also praised US President Donald Trump’s administration for not recognizing Somaliland.
Although the United States was the only member of the 15-member United Nations Security Council that did not condemn Israel’s recognition on December 30, it explain Its position on Somaliland has not changed.
For its part, Somaliland’s ruling party defended its newfound ties with Israel after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar Travel to HargeisaEarlier this week, the region’s largest city and self-proclaimed capital.
Hersi Ali Haji Hassan, Chairman of the ruling Wadani Party, Tell Al Jazeera Days later, Somaliland “cannot choose” who provides it with legitimacy after decades of international scorn.
“We are in a necessary position to gain official international recognition,” Hassan said. “We have no choice but to welcome any country that recognizes our right to exist.”
Hassan did not deny the prospect of a potential military base.
“We have begun establishing diplomatic relations… on this topic [a military base] It hasn’t been touched yet,” he said.
Asked whether Somaliland would accept such a request in the future, Hassan said he would just “ask when the time comes” and called the inquiry “untimely.”
Israeli think tanks say Somaliland’s location at the gateway to the Red Sea, across the sea from Yemen, makes it a strategic location in the fight against Yemen’s Houthi rebel group, which has imposed a naval blockade on Israeli-linked shipping ahead of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza.
The Institute for National Security Studies said in a November report that Somaliland territory could serve as a “forward base” for intelligence surveillance of the Houthis and serve as a “direct action platform” against them.
Houthis say any Israeli presence will be a goalFormer Somaliland intelligence chief Mustafa Hassan said the statement amounted to a declaration of war.
