Washington (Dawan Africa) – U.S. President Donald Trump has said his administration is reviewing the issue of Somaliland’s diplomatic recognition, following reports that Somaliland has expressed willingness to host Palestinians displaced from Gaza if the United States were to recognise its independence.
The question was raised during a press conference at the White House on Friday (Aug. 8), where Trump hosted Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders for a peace summit.
Question: You spoke of resettling Gazans. The country of Somaliland has expressed interest in hosting them if you recognise its independence. Are you inclined to do so?Trump: “We are looking into that right now, good question actually; another complex one as you know, but we are working on that right now Somaliland.”
Trump’s brief response avoided a direct answer but marked a rare occasion in which he spoke explicitly about Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but remains internationally unrecognised.The reported proposal comes amid ongoing conflict in Gaza, where months of fighting have displaced large numbers of Palestinians. While some policymakers have discussed resettlement options in third countries, the idea has faced resistance from several Arab governments, citing concerns over Palestinian rights and long-term political implications.
The United States has not confirmed whether it is engaged in formal discussions with Somaliland on either recognition or resettlement. Somalia’s federal government maintains its position that Somaliland remains part of Somalia and opposes any moves toward recognition.
