Somalia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Abukar Dahir Osman, has criticized Israel’s recent recognition of Somaliland, describing it as a “calculated distraction” amid ongoing conflicts in Gaza and the West Bank. His remarks came as Somalia assumed the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for January.
Speaking to reporters, Ambassador Osman said the move appeared intended to divert global attention from Israel’s military actions in Palestinian territories. “The idea of recognizing part of Somalia, I think we believe it was a calculated effort by the Israelis occupying force to distract the world,” he stated. He further rejected reports suggesting Somaliland had agreed to host Palestinians from Gaza, calling such claims unacceptable.
“What Israel’s goal is, I think it’s not even secret. They want to export the Palestinians from Gaza to any country that accepts,” Osman added.
Somaliland Rejects Accusations
Somaliland has dismissed the accusations as “false claims” and “baseless allegations.” On 26 December, Israel became the first country to officially recognize Somaliland as an independent nation, a move that has been widely criticized by multiple countries supporting Somalia’s sovereignty.
The recognition of Somaliland has sparked renewed international debate over the status of the breakaway region and raised questions about regional stability and diplomatic alignment in the Horn of Africa.
