The president of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has stated that the separatist region of Somaliland has agreed to relocate Palestinians and host an Israeli military base in exchange for recognition by Israel, reports Anadolu.

In an exclusive interview with the “Al Jazeera” network, Mohamud said that the recognition of Somaliland by Tel Aviv was “very sudden and strange”, adding that “it came out of nowhere”, since Israel became the first country since 1991. which recognizes the region as an independent state.

Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has operated as a “de facto” self-governing region without international recognition, as the central government in Mogadishu has failed to reassert control.

Mogadishu rejects Somaliland’s claim to independence, considers the region part of Somalia, and sees any direct engagement with it as a violation of the country’s sovereignty.

“We have tried reunite the country peacefully,” Mohamud said.

He said Somaliland has also agreed to join the Abraham Accords, signed in 2020 between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco to normalize relations.

Citing intelligence reports, the Somali president said Israel is seeking to control strategically important waterways such as the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and that the recognition of Somaliland simply normalizes a covert presence there.

He said Israel is not in the region for peace and intends to forcibly relocate Palestinians to Somalia.

Global negative reactions are mounting over Tel Aviv’s recognition of Somaliland, with many countries condemning the move as a violation of international law and a threat to regional stability.

On Monday, the UN Security Council seats raised concerns at an emergency meeting that the move was likely aimed at displacing Palestinians from Gaza.

Almost all council members condemned the recognition by Israel, while the US refrained from condemning it, but said its stance on the separatist region had not changed.

Source: prizrenpost