Somaliland has strongly rejected claims that it struck a secret military or political deal with Israel in exchange for diplomatic recognition, pushing back against allegations that the self-declared republic had offered Israeli basing rights or agreed to the resettlement of Palestinians on its territory.
- Somaliland has rebutted claims that it engaged in a covert agreement with Israel involving military or political exchanges
- The controversy arose following Israel’s landmark recognition of Somaliland, intensifying regional political sensitivities in the Horn of Africa.
- Somalia alleges that the recognition involved clandestine arrangements, which Somaliland denies
- Somaliland’s leadership has declared its commitment to diplomatic transparency
The accusations emerged after Israel became the first country to formally recognise Somaliland, a move that has dramatically escalated tensions between Hargeisa and Mogadishu and reshaped politics in the Horn of Africa.
Somalia’s government, which considers Somaliland an integral part of its territory, claimed the recognition was tied to an undisclosed package involving Israeli security facilities on Somaliland’s Red Sea coastline and possible accommodation of displaced Palestinians from Gaza.
Somaliland’s Foreign Minister, Mohamed Bihi Yonis, dismissed those claims as “false allegations” designed to undermine the territory’s international standing.
He said no agreement had been signed allowing Israel to build military infrastructure or move Palestinians into Somaliland, stressing that recognition was based on Somaliland’s long-running case for statehood, not on secret geopolitical deals.
Israel Recognition Sparks Regional Political Storm
Israel’s decision to recognise Somaliland has already triggered strong reactions across Africa and the Arab world, with Somalia accusing Tel Aviv of violating its sovereignty and destabilising the region.
For Somaliland, however, the recognition is being portrayed as a historic breakthrough after more than three decades of operating as a de facto state without international legitimacy.
Hargeisa argues that it has built its own democratic institutions, security forces and economy since breaking away from Somalia in 1991, and that recognition should be judged on those achievements rather than on rumours of foreign military arrangements.
In July 2025, Somaliland offered the United States a military base near the Red Sea and access to critical minerals as part of its push for international recognition.
While Washington continues to recognise Somalia’s sovereignty over the territory, President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, who took office in 2024, said his administration is in talks with the U.S. Embassy and Department of Defence on security, counter-terrorism, and economic cooperation.
“If the US is interested to land in Somaliland they are most welcome,” he added, noting potential deals for critical minerals like lithium.
Officials insist that Somaliland remains open to partnerships with many countries, but not at the cost of becoming a platform for foreign conflicts.
As Somalia works to rally international opposition to the recognition, Somaliland is racing to reassure African and global partners that its push for sovereignty is about self-determination — not secret military deals or regional power games.
