New Delhi: The United States and Israel have approached Sudan, Somalia and Somaliland, a region currently recognised as part of Somalia, to ‘relocate’ Palestinians from their homeland, according to a report by the Associated Press.
Though officials from Sudan told the AP they have “rejected overtures” from the US, and officials from Somalia and Somaliland said that they were not aware of any contacts, the media house reported that American and Israeli officials said that they had approached the three East African governments to discuss using these regions as “potential destinations” to move Palestinians from Gaza.
All these regions are already simmering in conflicts. A civil war is still ongoing in Sudan, after conflicts began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces. According to one estimate, around 15,000 Sudanese have already been killed, and 8.2 million others have been displaced from their homes. A civil war also rages on in Somalia; an armed group called the Al-Shabab (thought to be backed by the terrorist organisation Al Qaeda) has attacked hundreds of civilians, causing many Somalians to flee to Ethiopia. Somaliland, meanwhile, is trying to break away from Somalia; however, it is still not recognised as a separate country.
According to the report by AP, an American official confirmed that the US was “having a quiet conversation with Somaliland about a range of areas where they can be helpful to the U.S. in exchange for recognition”. But with factions trying to pursue its break from Somalia, conflicts have ensued, displacing almost 2 lakh people as per one estimate.
While AP reported that it was “unclear” about how much progress had been made on the talks with the three East African governments, it said that both US and Israeli officials confirmed that they had contacted Somalia and Somaliland, and that US officials confirmed they were in touch with Sudan about this as well. The AP said that all officials confirmed this “on condition of anonymity”, as discussions were on for a “secret diplomatic initiative”. According to US officials, Israel was taking “the lead” in these discussions and these contacts with the East African governments began just after US president Donald Trump presented his plans for the US to ‘own’ Gaza.
In early February, Trump unveiled a plan to ‘develop’ the Gaza strip – one of the most impacted areas during the ongoing attacks by Israel on Palestinians – by relocating Palestinians from the area (more than two million of them) and converting it into a real estate zone replete with casinos and tourism. In February, at a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump had proposed that the US take over Gaza and turn it into “the Riviera of the Middle East”. Later, Trump also called the area a “big real estate site” and said that the US would take control of Gaza and that it is “committed” to buying and owning the war-torn region.
