By Asha Elmi - Reporter
DOHA – 1 Sep 2026 – Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said his country will not accept becoming an “alternative homeland for Palestinians” and will not participate in any plan aimed at removing them from their land and relocating them to parts of Somalia.
In an interview with Qatar’s Al Sharq newspaper on Tuesday, Barre said Palestinians have the right to live freely and with dignity in their homeland.
The prime minister stressed that Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity are non-negotiable, warning against foreign interference in the country’s affairs.
He said Somalia’s position is clear and unchanged, rejecting any “action, recognition or agreement” that bypasses the Federal Government.
Barre said Somalia was among the founding members of the African Union and has internationally recognized borders that cannot be altered through unilateral measures.
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He warned that foreign interference aimed at weakening the sovereignty of states could set a dangerous precedent and lead to further instability in the Horn of Africa.
Barre criticized Israel’s recognition of the self-declared republic of Somaliland, saying it serves Israel’s expansionist interests rather than the interests of the Somali people.
He said Somalia remains open to dialogue to resolve domestic disputes but will not accept foreign interference, stressing that “Somalia’s unity is a red line” and that the country will defend it through political, diplomatic and legal means consistent with international law.
On Somaliland, Barre said the Federal Republic of Somalia is one country whose sovereignty cannot be divided through foreign intervention, stressing that disputes should be resolved through dialogue among Somalis.
He added that people in Somaliland are part of the Somali population and that the government is committed to working with and protecting them as they build the country’s future together.