WASHINGTON D.C.- The United States has suspended all ongoing assistance programmes to the Somali government following allegations that senior officials were involved in the destruction of a donor-funded food warehouse and the illegal seizure of humanitarian supplies meant for vulnerable communities.
In a statement shared on X on Wednesday, the US State Department said it had paused aid after receiving reports that Somali authorities destroyed a US-funded World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse and unlawfully confiscated 76 metric tonnes of donor-funded food aid.
The warning was issued by the US Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs and Religious Freedom, who cited Washington’s “zero-tolerance policy” on corruption, waste, or theft of humanitarian resources.
US links future aid to accountability
US officials said any future assistance to Somalia would be conditional on accountability, insisting that the Somali Federal Government must take responsibility and fully address the alleged misconduct before aid can resume.
“Future assistance will be dependent on the Somali Federal Government taking accountability and remediating this matter,” the official stated.
Somalia, located in the Horn of Africa, remains one of the world’s least developed countries, according to the United Nations, and relies heavily on international aid to support millions affected by conflict, drought, and food insecurity.
Somali government officials had not responded to requests for comment by the time of publication.
The aid suspension comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Washington and Somali leaders, both domestically and internationally.
In recent weeks, US authorities have intensified scrutiny of Somali communities in the United States, particularly in Minnesota, home to the country’s largest Somali diaspora estimated at around 80,000 people. Federal agencies have alleged widespread public benefits fraud and carried out immigration enforcement operations targeting Somali nationals.
In November, US President Donald Trump ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali immigrants, accusing some of involvement in gang activity and publicly calling for deportations.
The diplomatic strain has also been compounded by regional geopolitics. Last month, Israel officially recognised Somaliland, a self-declared republic that broke away from Somalia in 1991 but remains unrecognised internationally.
The move, backed by the United States, was sharply criticised by Egypt, Turkey, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, while the European Union reiterated its support for Somalia’s territorial integrity.
Somaliland’s strategic position along the Gulf of Aden, near Yemen, has increased its geopolitical value. Meanwhile, Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab has warned it would resist any foreign military presence linked to Israel in the region.
Humanitarian concerns grow
Aid agencies warn that any prolonged suspension of assistance could worsen humanitarian conditions in Somalia, where millions already depend on food aid amid persistent insecurity and climate-related shocks.
The US decision now places pressure on Somali authorities to resolve the dispute swiftly, as humanitarian partners monitor the situation closely.
