In exchange for Israel’s recognition, Somaliland has refuted claims that it agreed to host Israeli military installations and resettle Palestinians who had fled Gaza.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in contrast, said its cooperation with Israel was “purely diplomatic” and carried out “in full respect of international law” on Thursday.
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The president of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, made the denial in response to accusations that the country had accepted three demands from Israel, including the establishment of a military base on the Gulf of Aden coast, and adhering to the Abraham Accords, which would normalize relations with Israel.
As Hargeisa officials pressed for recognition, reports began to surface that Somaliland was interested in supporting Israel’s widely criticized goal of ethnic cleansing Palestinians.
Contrary to other nations rumored to be of interest to Israel, Somaliland’s foreign minister stated that no discussions had taken place regarding the matter but stopped short of rejecting the possibility.
Only the most recent condition has been made known in the eyes of the public.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Tuesday that Somaliland would support the Abraham Accords by saying that he wanted to “support a democratic, moderate country, a Muslim country, that wants to join the Abraham Accords.”
After more than three decades of unsuccessful attempts by the breakaway region of Somalia, Israel became the first nation to grant the nation its first official statehood last week.
“A cover for Israeli objectives”
According to Kan, Israel’s public broadcaster, Somaliland’s president Abdurrahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as Cirro, plans an official visit to Israel in the coming weeks.
According to sources, Abdullahi’s official engagement with the Abraham Accords could start as early as January 2nd, according to sources.
During a video call to announce the mutual recognition, Netanyahu initially invited Cirro.
The president of Somalia reaffirmed that Israel’s recognition “was not just a diplomatic gesture but a cover for specific, high-stakes Israeli strategic objectives.”
He alleged that Israel would “export its problem to the Horn of Africa” and that it would “open a box of evils in the world” as a result.
Analysts point to the region’s strategic position at the entrance to the Red Sea, where Yemen’s Houthis imposed a naval blockade on Israeli-linked shipping before the US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza and fired rockets at Israel, despite the country’s continued libel.
According to a report released in November by the Israeli think tank Institute for National Security Studies, “Somaliland’s territory could serve as a front base” for Houthis’ intelligence surveillance and “a platform for direct operations” against them.
According to the statement made by Somaliland’s former intelligence chief, Mostafa Hasan, earlier this week, the Houthis claimed any Israeli presence would constitute a declaration of war.
concerns and condemnation
Regional concerns were downplayed by Somaliland’s foreign minister on Wednesday, telling Israel’s i24NEWS that while some nations “feel Israel establishing a relationship will cause their downfall,” these worries were unfounded.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Mogadishu, Baidoa, Dhusamareb, Las Anod, and other cities on December 30 to demand unity and waving Somali flags.
The African Union and the European Union both criticized Israel’s decision, while more than 50 nations criticized the decision.
Despite the backlash, Somaliland’s president promised that “many more nations will soon formally recognize the Republic of Somaliland” on New Year’s Eve.
Despite maintaining its own government, currency, and military, the region declared independence from Somalia in 1991 during a civil war, but it has never received international recognition.
Source: Aljazeera
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