In a significant diplomatic move, the United States has suspended all assistance to Somalia’s government following allegations that officials destroyed a UN World Food Programme warehouse and confiscated approximately 76 tonnes of donor-funded food aid intended for vulnerable populations.
The State Department announced the decision through the account of the Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance, stating the Trump administration maintains a ‘zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft, and diversion of life-saving assistance.’ The suspension will remain until Somali authorities ‘take accountability for unacceptable actions and implement appropriate remedial measures.’
This development occurs against a backdrop of escalating tensions between Washington and Mogadishu. Recent months have witnessed strained relations following President Trump’s controversial remarks about Somali migrants in the United States and Israel’s recognition of breakaway region Somaliland, which Somalia considers part of its sovereign territory.
Despite the suspension, the U.S. remains the WFP’s largest contributor, providing $2 billion in 2025—nearly one-third of the organization’s total funding. The seized aid was critical for addressing Somalia’s severe hunger crisis, where 4.6 million people face emergency food shortages exacerbated by drought, floods, conflict, and diminishing harvests.
The Somali government, engaged in a prolonged battle against al-Qaeda-linked militants while rebuilding from civil war and environmental disasters, has not yet responded to the allegations or the aid suspension.