A senior Somaliland official has signaled openness to discussing the possible relocation of Gazans to the disputed African territory, but only under one condition—formal diplomatic recognition.

In an interview with Israel’s Kan broadcaster, Abdirahman Dahir Adam Bakal, Somaliland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, responded to inquiries about reports that Israeli and U.S. officials have approached Somaliland, Sudan, and Somalia as potential destinations for displaced Gazans. While confirming Somaliland’s willingness to engage in talks, Bakal made it clear that only nations that officially recognize Somaliland’s sovereignty would be considered as negotiating partners.

“We are open to discussion on any matter, but we do not want to speculate on matters that have not yet been discussed. All countries that are interested in discussing certain issues with us must first establish working relations with us and open diplomatic missions in Somaliland,” Bakal was quoted as saying.

The statement, originally published by Kan in Hebrew, comes amid ongoing international speculation about President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate Gazans away from the war-torn enclave. Israeli officials, including those in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, have backed the idea despite strong objections from Arab nations and international humanitarian organizations.

A recent Associated Press report indicated that both Sudan and Somalia had distanced themselves from such negotiations, with Sudanese officials explicitly rejecting the idea and Somali authorities denying any awareness of discussions. Somaliland, a self-declared breakaway state with over 6.2 million inhabitants, has long operated as a de facto sovereign entity since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991, but remains unrecognized by any UN member state or major international organization.

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