Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi has disclosed that his administration could contribute up to 2,000 soldiers to a proposed international security mission in Gaza, signalling the territory’s willingness to take on a greater role in Middle Eastern security affairs.
Abdullahi said Somaliland was prepared to provide the troops if approached by the United States or Israel, although his government had not volunteered a contingent for deployment.
The president made the remarks during an interview on the sidelines of the Middle East and Africa Dialogue (MEAD) conference in Washington, where he discussed Somaliland’s military capabilities, international relations and efforts to secure broader diplomatic recognition.
What Somaliland wants from the proposed Gaza mission
Abdullahi indicated that a formal request from Washington or Tel Aviv would be necessary before Somaliland considered contributing personnel to the proposed force.
The territory’s position suggests that its potential participation remains conditional, with no deployment confirmed in the announcement.
The proposed force is expected to undertake several security and administrative responsibilities, including helping maintain stability, training Palestinian police officers, facilitating humanitarian assistance and preventing Hamas from rebuilding its military control.
Other countries have also been linked to the initiative. According to the report, Uganda has approved a contingent of approximately 1,200 soldiers, while Morocco has committed up to 500. Albania, Kazakhstan and Kosovo have also pledged personnel.
The force is ultimately intended to comprise approximately 20,000 troops, although the proposed deployment arrangements and the participation of individual countries remain important considerations.
Somaliland’s possible contribution of 2,000 soldiers would represent a significant commitment, but Abdullahi’s remarks did not establish that the territory had formally joined the mission.
Somaliland outlines its military capacity
The president said Somaliland had approximately 25,000 soldiers and a coast guard comprising around 1,500 personnel.
Despite maintaining its own security institutions, the territory has not previously contributed troops to an African Union peacekeeping force, according to the report.
A potential Gaza deployment would therefore represent a notable expansion of Somaliland’s stated international security ambitions, should a formal invitation be made and the necessary arrangements agreed.
However, the announcement does not clarify which units would be considered for deployment, how they would be funded or what command arrangements would govern their participation.
These questions would need to be addressed before any proposed contribution could translate into an operational commitment.