Washington (WDN) — Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Cirro) has triggered a political backlash after saying Somaliland could deploy up to 2,000 troops to Gaza if formally requested by the United States and Israel.

Cirro made the remarks Wednesday in Washington while attending the MEAD conference, saying Somaliland was not volunteering to send forces to Gaza but would be prepared to contribute troops if Washington and Israel formally requested it.

“If we are asked, we can provide them,” Cirro said, according to reports. “We are not putting ourselves forward, but if I am asked, I am ready.”

The proposal has drawn strong criticism from Somaliland’s opposition parties, with several political groups condemning the idea and questioning the wisdom of involving Somaliland’s military in an international force for Gaza.

Among the parties opposing the proposal is the Kaah Party, which has joined the broader political criticism of the government’s position. The opposition argues that Somaliland should not commit its soldiers to a foreign military mission without a clear national consensus, particularly one involving the highly sensitive Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Opposition Challenges the Government

The backlash highlights a growing divide within Somaliland over the direction of President Cirro’s foreign and security policy. Opposition parties have questioned whether the government has the political mandate to make such a far-reaching military commitment, arguing that the deployment of Somaliland troops abroad would require careful public debate and broad political consultation.

For critics, the issue is not simply whether Somaliland has soldiers available. It is why Somaliland should send them to Gaza, under whose command they would operate, what their mandate would be, and what political and security consequences Somaliland could face as a result.

The criticism is particularly significant because Cirro’s proposal comes at a sensitive moment in Somaliland’s expanding relationship with Israel.

A New Chapter in Somaliland-Israel Relations

Somaliland has taken several steps to deepen its relationship with Israel. The government reportedly opened a diplomatic mission in Jerusalem in June, following Cirro’s official visit to Israel.

Those moves have generated considerable debate within Somaliland and across the wider Somali political landscape.

The relationship became even more consequential following Israel’s reported recognition of Somaliland in December 2025, a development that Somaliland has viewed as an important diplomatic breakthrough in its long campaign for international recognition.

Cirro’s Gaza proposal could therefore be interpreted by critics as another step toward closer strategic alignment with Israel and the United States. The government, however, appears to view closer international partnerships as an opportunity to enhance Somaliland’s diplomatic position and increase its strategic relevance.

The proposed international force for Gaza is expected to involve as many as 20,000 troops, according to reports. Uganda has reportedly agreed to contribute approximately 1,200 personnel, while Morocco has pledged up to 500. Albania, Kazakhstan and Kosovo have also reportedly expressed willingness to contribute troops to the U.S.-led force.

The proposed mission would reportedly focus on maintaining security, supporting the training of Palestinian police forces, facilitating humanitarian assistance and preventing Hamas from rebuilding its military capabilities. For Somaliland, participation would represent a significant departure from its traditional security role.

Its military has primarily focused on territorial security and maintaining control within Somaliland. Deploying thousands of troops to Gaza would place Somaliland’s forces in an international operation involving one of the world’s most politically sensitive conflicts.

A Risky Political Calculation

That is why opposition parties are demanding greater scrutiny. Sending troops abroad could expose Somaliland to political, diplomatic and security risks that extend far beyond the immediate mission.

It could also deepen divisions inside Somaliland at a time when the government is already attempting to manage competing domestic political interests and strengthen its international position.

The question facing Cirro is therefore larger than whether Somaliland can provide 2,000 soldiers.

It is whether Somaliland’s national interest is served by becoming a military participant in the Gaza conflict—and whether such a decision can be made without broad political consensus. For the opposition, the answer appears to be no.

Their condemnation suggests that the proposal has opened a new domestic political front for Cirro, turning what may have been intended as a gesture of international cooperation into a contentious debate over Somaliland’s foreign policy, military commitments and relationship with Israel.

The issue is no longer simply whether Somaliland is willing to send troops to Gaza. It is whether the Somaliland government can convince its own political opposition—and its public—that such a deployment serves Somaliland’s interests.

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