The US has suspended all assistance to the government of Somalia, alleging that officials destroyed a UN World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse and seized donor-funded food aid.
The Trump administration has a zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft, and diversion of life-saving assistance, stated a US State Department announcement. Reports indicated officials illegally seized 76 tonnes of food intended for vulnerable Somalis.
Resumption of assistance depends on the Somali government taking accountability for its actions. The US remains the largest contributor to the WFP, providing $2 billion in 2025—nearly a third of its total funding.
The Somali government, facing ongoing challenges from al-Qaeda-linked militants and the aftermath of civil war, has not publicly responded to the allegations. This incident denotes worsening relations between Washington and Mogadishu, as seen in recent controversial statements by Trump regarding Somali migrants.
With estimates stating that 4.6 million people in Somalia face crisis levels of hunger, the situation has become increasingly dire as aid that was intended to alleviate the impact of droughts and conflicts is now in jeopardy.
