Somalia declines to host Gaza refugees, stands firm on Palestinian sovereignty

Somalia's Foreign Ministry has firmly rejected a request to resettle refugees from the Gaza Strip on its territory, following reports that Israel and the United States had approached East African nations for such a proposal.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement reaffirming Somalia's stance, declaring it "categorically rejects any proposal that undermines the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to live on their land", Caliber.Az reports referring to The Times of Israel.

The statement came in response to an Associated Press (AP) report that both the US and Israel had asked Somalia, along with Sudan and the unrecognized region of Somaliland, to consider hosting Palestinians displaced by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Earlier in the day, Sudan also announced its refusal to accept Palestinians, marking a clear rejection from both countries. The US and Israel have reportedly been in talks with officials from Sudan, Somalia, and Somaliland since February. These discussions were part of US President Donald Trump's post-war plan, which envisions resettling Palestinians from Gaza in these territories. The plan also suggests offering these nations financial, diplomatic, and security incentives in exchange for hosting the refugees. These incentives include debt relief, weapons, technology, and diplomatic support.

While the US and Israel have been leading the discussions with African countries, the specific details of the negotiations remain unclear. Sources say these talks are still in their early stages, and it is not known whether they have progressed beyond initial contacts.

In response to these reports, officials from Somalia and Somaliland have denied knowledge of any such discussions. In Sudan, government officials confirmed the US approach but noted that the proposal was immediately rejected. The suggestion of resettling Palestinians in territories that are economically struggling and, in some cases, conflict-prone, has raised concerns about the feasibility of Trump's plan, especially considering his claims that refugees would live "very happily and very safely" in these regions.

In a separate development, reports have indicated that the Trump administration is exploring the possibility of recognizing Somaliland as a sovereign state if it agrees to host refugees from Gaza. However, Somaliland's leadership has publicly denied any discussions with US representatives on this matter. Despite regularly holding democratic elections and seeking international recognition, Somaliland remains unrecognized by much of the world.

By Tamilla Hasanova