Somalia Rejects U.S. Proposal to Resettle Gaza Residents

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somali government has firmly rejected a U.S. proposal to resettle a portion of Gaza's population in its territory, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

Somali Foreign Minister, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, stated that Somalia would not accept any plan that undermines the rights of the Palestinian people to live peacefully in their homeland. Fiqi emphasized that the Somali government had not received any formal request from the U.S. suggesting that Somalia host Gaza's residents.

“We will never accept any plan to resettle Palestinian refugees on Somali soil,” Fiqi told Reuters.

According to reports from the Associated Press, U.S., and Israeli officials have confirmed that discussions are ongoing regarding the resettlement of Gaza residents, involving the U.S., Israel, Somalia, Somaliland, and Sudan. However, Sudan has already rejected Washington's request.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who has shown interest in the devastated Gaza Strip, reportedly wants to take control of the area and facilitate the relocation of Palestinians to other countries, including Somalia.

The proposal has been met with strong opposition from both Palestinians and Arab nations, who are currently working on a plan to rebuild Gaza to counter Trump's relocation scheme.

Somalia relies on U.S. financial and security support, which includes training the Danab commando unit and conducting airstrikes against Al-Shabaab. Hundreds of U.S. soldiers are stationed in the country, most of whom were removed by Trump in December 2020 before he left the White House. However, Biden sent the American soldiers back to Somalia after assuming office. 

GAROWE ONLINE