US Suspends Food Aid to Somalia Amid Allegations of Theft
US State Department officials publicly rebuked Somalia’s leaders on Wednesday over claims that a US-funded World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse was destroyed and 76 metric tons of food aid intended for vulnerable Somalis were seized illegally
By : Mweru Mbugua
The United States has paused all ongoing food assistance programs to Somalia following reports that Somali officials misappropriated humanitarian aid, heightening tensions between the two countries
US State Department officials publicly rebuked Somalia’s leaders on Wednesday over claims that a US-funded World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse was destroyed and 76 metric tons of food aid intended for vulnerable Somalis were seized illegally
In a post on X, the US Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs, and Religious Freedom emphasized the administration’s “zero-tolerance policy” for waste or theft, warning that future aid will be contingent on Somalia taking full accountability and addressing the matter
Somalia, located on the Horn of Africa, has long been classified by the United Nations as one of the world’s least developed countries. Officials in Mogadishu have not immediately responded to requests for comment
The move comes amid a series of tensions between Washington and the Somali community. In recent weeks, Somali immigrants in Minnesota have faced immigration raids, and the US administration has alleged widespread public benefits fraud within the state’s Somali population, the largest in the country at roughly 80,000 people
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In November 2025, President Donald Trump ended Temporary Protected Status for Somali immigrants, citing concerns over gang violence and urging their return to Somalia
The aid suspension also coincides with rising diplomatic friction in the region. Last month, Israel formally recognized Somaliland, a self-declared republic seeking independence from Somalia since 1991
The US supported Israel’s decision, while several other countries and organizations, including Egypt, Turkey, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the European Union, criticized the move, citing concerns over Somalia’s sovereignty
Meanwhile, the Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab has warned it will resist any attempts by Israel to use Somaliland as a strategic base near Yemen
Somaliland maintains its own currency, army, and passports, but international recognition has remained limited
The US action underscores the fragility of Somalia’s humanitarian situation and the increasing complexities of geopolitical dynamics in the Horn of Africa
