Somaliland says countries seeking to engage it on Palestine must first recognise its sovereignty

Somaliland’s Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir Aden has stated that any country seeking to engage the breakaway nation in discussions related to Palestine must first recognise its sovereignty.

His remarks were made during an interview with Israel’s state broadcaster KAN where he emphasised Somaliland’s stance on diplomatic engagement.

Abdirahman insisted that Somaliland will not engage in diplomatic discussions with nations that do not formally acknowledge its independence.

"We are open to discussions on any issue, but countries seeking dialogue with us must first establish official diplomatic relations and open an embassy in Somaliland," he said.

He stated that Somaliland is open to dialogue on various issues, but only if countries first establish official diplomatic relations and open embassies there.

His comments were in response to reports suggesting that some governments have considered relocating displaced Palestinians from Gaza to Somaliland.

Abdirahman denied any official engagement on this matter and emphasised that no country had formally approached Somaliland with such a proposal.

The Associated Press recently reported that officials from Israel and the United States had held discussions about potential resettlement plans involving Somaliland, Somalia and Sudan. However, all three governments have denied receiving any formal requests or being involved in such talks.

Abdirahman reiterated that Somaliland’s primary focus remains on securing international recognition and that it is working to prove itself as a stable and democratic nation.

"What matters most to us is securing recognition after demonstrating to the world that we are a peaceful and democratic nation," he said.

Somaliland, a self-declared republic in the Horn of Africa, has operated as a de facto independent state since breaking away from Somalia in 1991.

Despite having its own government, military, and economic system, it remains unrecognised by the international community.

The issue of Palestine has been widely debated on the international stage, with discussions about the displacement of Palestinians being a sensitive topic.

Reports about the potential resettlement of Palestinians displaced by the war in Gaza have sparked concerns from various countries.

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