Sudan Rejects U.S. Plan to Relocate Gazans; Somalia and Somaliland Deny Talks

Sudanese officials reject U.S. proposal to relocate Gazans

The Associated Press reported that U.S. and Israeli officials approached authorities in Sudan, Somalia, and Somaliland about resettling Palestinians from Gaza into their territories. Sudanese officials stated that they rejected the U.S. proposal, while officials from Somalia and Somaliland said they were unaware of any such discussions.

AP: U.S. and Israel Plan to Relocate Palestinians from Gaza to African Countries

The American Associated Press reported that U.S. and Israeli officials contacted leaders from Sudan, Somalia, and Somaliland to discuss relocating Palestinians displaced from Gaza as part of President Donald Trump’s displacement plan.

These efforts highlight the U.S. and Israel’s determination to push forward with a widely condemned plan that raises significant legal and ethical concerns.

Given the poverty and instability in these regions, the proposal also casts doubt on Trump’s claim of resettling Gaza’s Palestinians in a “beautiful area.”

Sudan Rejects Proposal To Displace Palestinians, Calling It Unacceptable

Sudanese officials dismissed U.S. proposals to resettle Palestinians from Gaza, according to the Associated Press.

A senior Sudanese government official told Reuters that Sudan did not receive such a proposal and would not accept it.

Despite being one of the four nations that normalized ties with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords, Sudan’s relations with Israel stalled as the country descended into civil war between government forces and the RSF paramilitary group.

Two Sudanese officials confirmed that the Trump administration approached Sudan’s military-led government about accepting Palestinian refugees.

One official revealed that discussions began even before Trump’s inauguration, with the U.S. offering military aid against the RSF and postwar reconstruction support.

Both officials said Sudan firmly rejected the idea. “No one opened this matter again.”

Somalia and Somaliland Deny Talks on Resettling Palestinians From Gaza

Somali and Somaliland officials refuted claims of discussions about resettling Palestinians from Gaza, according to the Associated Press.

Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi stated that his country would categorically reject “any proposal or initiative, from any party, that would undermine the Palestinian people’s right to live peacefully on their ancestral land.”

He told Reuters that Somalia did not receive such a proposal and opposed any plan to use its territory for resettling other populations.

Abdirahman Dahir Adan, Somaliland’s foreign minister, also denied any talks, telling Reuters, “There are no talks with anyone regarding Palestinians.”

Somalia and Somaliland Deny Talks on Resettling Palestinians From Gaza

A Somali official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that no one approached the country or initiated discussions. Similarly, an unnamed Somaliland official stated that no one contacted his government about the resettlement of Palestinians.

Sudan and Somalia Show Pro-Palestine Stance at Arab Summit

On March 4, Sudanese military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan reiterated his country’s stance at an Arab leaders’ summit in Cairo, declaring that Sudan “categorically rejects” any plan to relocate “the brotherly Palestinians from their land under whatever justification or name.”

Somalia, a strong supporter of Palestine, hosted pro-Palestinian protests and joined the recent Arab summit rejecting Trump’s plan. Given its stance, it appears unlikely to accept any resettlement proposal, even if Palestinians were willing to relocate.

Unlike Somalia, which has fought an Islamist insurgency for over 17 years, Somaliland has largely maintained peace since declaring independence from Mogadishu in 1991.

However, no country has recognized Somaliland as an independent state, and its government has sought U.S. support for statehood.

Arab Leaders Propose Gaza Reconstruction Plan, Reject Trump’s Proposal

Palestinians in Gaza rejected the proposal to relocate and dismissed Israeli claims that any departures would be voluntary.

Arab nations strongly opposed the plan, instead offering a $53 billion Egyptian-led reconstruction initiative that would keep Palestinians in their homeland.

Human rights groups warned that forcing or pressuring Palestinians to leave could constitute a war crime.

U.S. President Donald Trump initially suggested permanently displacing Palestinians before proposing a U.S.-led takeover to rebuild Gaza.

Trump’s plan heightened Palestinian fears of permanent expulsion and faced widespread international rejection.

Michele Zaccheo, a U.N. spokesperson in Geneva, told Reuters, “Any plan that could or would lead to the forced displacement of people or any type of ethnic cleansing is something that we would obviously be against, as it is against international law.”