MOGADISHU, Somalia – The United States has suspended all assistance that benefits Somalia’s federal government after allegations that Somali authorities demolished a U.S.-funded food aid warehouse and seized supplies meant for people in need.
The U.S. State Department said on Wednesday that the move follows claims that 76 metric tons of humanitarian food assistance were taken after a World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse at Mogadishu Port was destroyed. The aid had been intended for civilians facing food insecurity.
In a brief statement, the department said the administration of President Donald Trump maintains a “zero-tolerance” stance toward the misuse or diversion of humanitarian assistance. As a result, it said, all programmes supporting Somalia’s federal government have been paused, with any future resumption dependent on accountability and corrective measures by Somali authorities.
The Associated Press, citing a senior U.S. official, reported that Washington is now reassessing its Somalia assistance on a programme-by-programme basis to determine which initiatives benefit the federal government either directly or indirectly.
Some programmes could be suspended, redirected, or cancelled altogether. The official described Somalia as a long-standing challenge when it comes to monitoring aid and ensuring proper oversight.
Somali government officials approached for comment said they would issue an official statement at a later time.
The decision also comes amid a broader halt to USAID programmes affecting several countries, including Somalia, as Washington continues a wider review of foreign aid spending.
The United States was Somalia’s largest donor last year, providing roughly $770 million in assistance during the final year of former President Joe Biden’s administration, although only a small fraction of that funding went directly to the federal government.
