The government of Somaliland has officially denied allegations that it entered into a secret agreement to host Israeli military installations or resettle displaced Palestinians from Gaza. In a statement released on Thursday, January 1, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed these claims as baseless, asserting that the region’s recent diplomatic breakthrough with Israel is being conducted in full compliance with international law.
The denial follows a series of accusations from the Somali government in Mogadishu, which claimed that Somaliland had accepted controversial conditions in exchange for its recent sovereign recognition.
Okay News gathered that Somalia’s President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, alleged that the deal included the establishment of an Israeli base on the Gulf of Aden and the resettlement of refugees. Somaliland officials have characterized these statements as an attempt to undermine the diplomatic progress the breakaway region has achieved after three decades of seeking international status.
While Somaliland has rejected the claims regarding military and resettlement quotas, it has acknowledged its intention to join the Abraham Accords to normalize relations with Israel.
This move has sparked widespread protests across Somalia and triggered condemnation from the African Union and over 50 other nations. Despite the regional tension, Somaliland’s President, Abdurrahman Mohamed Abdullahi, is expected to proceed with an official visit to Israel later this month to further formalize the new partnership.
