The United States has suspended all assistance to the government of Somalia. This decision follows allegations from the US State Department that Somali officials destroyed a United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse and seized 76 tonnes of donor-funded food aid.
US Statement on Aid Suspension
A statement posted on X by the US under secretary for foreign assistance cited reports of officials illegally seizing food intended for vulnerable Somalis. The statement indicated that any resumption of assistance would require the Somali government to take accountability for these actions and implement appropriate remedial steps.
The United States is the largest contributor to the WFP, providing $2 billion in 2025, which represents approximately one-third of the organization's total funding.
Somali Context and Broader Relations
As of the time of reporting, the Somali government has not issued a public comment regarding the US aid suspension. Somalia is currently engaged in efforts to rebuild the country following a prolonged civil war and years of drought, while also combating al-Qaeda-linked Islamist militants.
The suspension occurs amidst a period of strained relations between Washington and Mogadishu. Previous developments include:
- In November, then-US President Donald Trump made remarks regarding Somali migrants in the US.
- Immigration raids have targeted Somali communities in Minnesota, a state with a significant Somali population, due to allegations of large-scale benefit fraud.
- The recognition of Somaliland by Israel, a US ally, has been a point of contention, as Somalia considers Somaliland to be part of its territory.
Humanitarian Impact
The food aid allegedly seized by Somali officials was designated to assist populations affected by drought, floods, conflict, high food prices, and diminishing harvests. The WFP reports that an estimated 4.6 million people in Somalia are currently experiencing crisis levels of hunger.