Somalia’s defense minister, Ahmed Moalim Fiki, has accused Israel of planning to forcefully displace Palestinians in the breakaway region of Somaliland, denouncing the alleged plan as a “serious violation” of international law.
In an interview with Al Jazeera on Saturday, Fiki called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to withdraw diplomatic recognition of the “separatist region”, calling the decision announced late last year a “direct attack” on Somalia’s sovereignty.
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“Israel has goals and plans to divide countries – maybe 20 years ago – and they want to divide the map of the Middle East and control their countries… That’s why they found this separatist group in north-west Somalia,” Fiki told Al Jazeera.
“We have confirmed information that Israel plans to transfer Palestinians and send them (to Somaliland),” he added.
Fiki’s comments came amid global outcry over Netanyahu’s decision in December Get to know SomalilandA fragmented part of Somalia that once was a British protectorate comprising the northwestern part.
The decision made Israel the first country in the world to recognize Somaliland as an independent state, and a few months later the Associated Press reported that Israeli officials had held talks with parties in Somalia, Somaliland, and Sudan about using their territory to forcibly displace Palestinians.
Somalia, along with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, condemned Israel’s decision telling Al Jazeera Somaliland accepted three conditions from Israel: resettlement of Palestinians, establishment of a military base on the shores of the Gulf of Aden, and joining the Abraham Accords to normalize relations with Israel.
Authorities in Somaliland have Consent refused to resettle Palestinians in Gaza, and say there was no talk of an Israeli military base in the area.
But Fiki reiterated on Saturday that Israel wants to “build a military base to destabilize the area” at the Bab al-Mandeb strait, which connects the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea.
“I see this as a business to destabilize the sector,” Fiki added.
He also emphasized that Israel has no legal right to legitimize the territory under 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 world-first announcement caused a stir Prohibition Strong criticism in and from Somalia Dozens of countries and associations with Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the African Union.
Fiki told Al Jazeera that Israel’s move comes in line with its decades-long goal of controlling the Middle East, accusing Israel of exploiting separatist movements in the region. Roughly half of what was formerly known as Somaliland has declared its ties to Somalia in the past two years, he added.
The minister praised countries that condemned Israel and promised that Somalia would rely on all diplomatic and legal means to reject Israel’s “violations”.
He also praised the administration of US President Donald Trump for not recognizing Somaliland.
Although the US is the only member of the 15-member UN Security Council not to condemn Israel for its December 30 recognition said Its position on Somaliland has not changed.
For its part, Somaliland’s governing party has defended its new relationship with Israel after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. Traveled to HargeisaEarlier this week, the region’s largest city and self-proclaimed capital.
Hersi Ali Haji Hasan, President of the ruling Wadani Party, told Al Jazeera A few days later that Somaliland was “not in a position to choose” which gave it legitimacy after decades of rejection by the international community.
“We are in a position that requires official international recognition,” Hassan said. “We have no choice but to welcome any country that recognizes our right to exist.”
Hassan did not rule out the possibility of a possible military base.
“We have started diplomatic relations… this topic (military base) is not touched now,” he said.
When pressed on whether Somaliland would accept such a request in the future, Hassan said only to “ask questions when the time comes” and called the line of inquiry “premature”.
Israeli think tanks say Somaliland’s location, at the entrance to the Red Sea and across from Yemen, makes it a strategic location for operations against Yemen’s Houthi rebel group, which imposed a naval blockade on Israeli-linked shipping before a US-backed ceasefire in Gaza.
The Institute for National Security Studies said in a November report that the region of Somaliland could “serve as a forward base” for intelligence monitoring of the Houthis and provide “a platform for direct operations” against them.
The Houthis denied any Israeli presence will be the targetSomaliland’s former intelligence chief, Mostafa Hassan, said it was tantamount to a declaration of war.