The United States has suspended all assistance to Somalia’s federal government after officials allegedly destroyed a US-funded World Food Programme warehouse and seized 76 metric tons of donor-funded food aid intended for vulnerable civilians.
The announcement came on Wednesday from the US State Department, which cited a zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft and diversion of life-saving assistance.
“The US is deeply concerned by reports that Federal Government of Somalia officials have destroyed a US-funded World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse and illegally seized 76 metric tons of donor-funded food aid for vulnerable Somalis,” the department stated in a social media post.
The warehouse at Mogadishu Port was reportedly demolished on the orders of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud without prior notification or coordination with international donors, including the United States, according to a US official familiar with the matter.
Somali authorities have not yet responded to the allegations.
Conditions for resumption
The State Department indicated that assistance could resume only if the Somali Federal Government takes accountability for its actions and implements appropriate remedial steps.
“The State Department has paused all ongoing US assistance programs which benefit the Somali Federal Government,” the statement added.
Context of broader aid cuts
The decision aligns with the Trump administration’s sharp reduction in humanitarian assistance since returning to office in 2025. The previous Biden administration provided about USD 770 million in assistance for projects in Somalia, though only a small portion went directly to the federal government.
It remains unclear how much aid is affected, as the administration has slashed foreign aid expenditures overall and dismantled parts of the US Agency for International Development.
Ties to domestic tensions
The move follows heightened criticism from President Donald Trump toward the Somali community in the United States, particularly in Minnesota, home to the largest Somali diaspora.
In a December cabinet meeting, Trump described Somalis as “garbage” and singled out Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar for attack, linking them to a fraud scandal involving child nutrition programmes.
The administration has intensified immigration enforcement raids in Minneapolis and suggested denaturalisation for those involved in wrongdoing.
Humanitarian impact in Somalia
The suspension threatens to worsen an already dire crisis in Somalia, where millions face acute food insecurity due to persistent drought, conflict with Al-Shabaab militants and infrastructure challenges.
Aid agencies have long documented issues with diversion in the country, but the direct accusation against government officials and the total freeze mark a significant escalation.
Somalia remains one of the world’s poorest nations, plagued by chronic insecurity and natural disasters.
