Somalilandsun – US President Donald Trump has once again flouted the possibility of forcibly relocating Palestinians from the Gaza Strip – this time to Morocco, the unrecognised territory of Somaliland and the self-declared autonomous territory of Puntland, both located in the Horn of Africa, according to Israeli media.
On Tuesday, the Israeli channel N12 reported that the Trump administration is considering Morocco as a location for ethnically cleansed Gazans, citing its dependence on US recognition of the North African kingdom’s sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara. The report also claimed that both Somaliland and Puntland are seeking international recognition, potentially from Washington
The territories of Somaliland and Puntland are not recognised globally as independent countries.
Following Trump’s re-election in January this year, residents of the territory have expressed hope that the Republican will officially acknowledge the territory’s independence.
The United States Ambassador to Somalia, Richard H. Riley, said Somaliland was “one of the best examples of democracy in action in Africa”, while attending the inauguration of its President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi in December.
Gavin Williamson, the former UK defence secretary who lobbied Trump, also said in December that the US president is poised to recognise Somaliland as an official country, according to The Independent.
Morocco has friendly relations with the US, and has normalised relations with Israel in 2020 via the controversial Abraham Accords, brokered by Trump during his first term as president.
Back in 2020, Trump recognised Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara in exchange for the country establishing diplomatic relations with Israel. Continue reading HERE
