Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has denied claims that the State of Israel has a secret pact with Hargeisa to forcefully relocate displaced Palestinians to the Northwest region of Somalia (Somaliland).

Speaking in an interview recently, Minister Sa’ar said there were not any plans to relocate the Palestinians from Gaza.

He said the allegations were mere propaganda aimed at creating conflict between Mogadishu and Hargeisa. He noted that Israel’s recognition of the Northwest region of Somalia (Somaliland) was a step towards a democratic, stable partnership and its strategic location on the Red Sea and not a refugee resettlement scheme. He further highlighted that the partnership was purely diplomatic, targeting security, advancement in agricultural technology, and maritime technology.

On December 30th, 2025, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, while appearing on Al Jazeera, said intelligence reports in Somalia indicate the Northwest region of Somalia (Somaliland) had accepted three secret conditions from Israel in exchange for their diplomatic recognition.

President Hassan Sheikh said the Northwest region of Somalia (Somaliland) had agreed to allow the state of Israel to resettle displaced Palestinians from Gaza to the Northwest region of Somalia (Somaliland). The secret pact was also to allow Israel to establish a foreign base at the Gulf of Aden and for the Northwest region of Somalia (Somaliland) to join the Abraham Accords.

He warned that Israel’s recent move possess a major security risk at the horn of Africa bigger than the threats from Al-Shabaab.

Israel’s recognition of the Northwest region of Somalia (Somaliland) as a sovereign state has continued to attract resistance from the international community, with Turkey, China, the UAE, the Arab League, the African Union, and the United Nations Security Council denouncing Israel’s step.