The United States has halted all assistance to Somalia’s government following allegations that officials destroyed a UN World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse and illegally seized food aid meant for vulnerable civilians.
In a statement shared on X, the US State Department said the decision followed reports that Somali officials confiscated 76 tonnes of donor-funded food intended for people facing acute hunger. The statement stressed that the Trump administration operates a “zero-tolerance policy” toward the misuse, theft or diversion of humanitarian assistance.
Washington said aid would only resume if the Somali government accepts responsibility for the alleged actions and takes concrete corrective measures.
Despite pulling out of several United Nations bodies under President Donald Trump, the US remains the largest single donor to the World Food Programme. In 2025 alone, it contributed about $2bn, accounting for nearly one-third of the agency’s total funding.
Somalia’s government has not yet responded publicly to the accusations. The country continues to battle al-Qaeda-linked militant group al-Shabab while attempting to recover from decades of conflict, repeated droughts and economic instability.
Relations between Washington and Mogadishu have been under growing strain in recent months. Last month, President Trump made controversial remarks about Somali migrants in the US, telling reporters they should return to their home country and suggesting Somalia’s problems were self-inflicted.
Somali communities in the US, particularly in Minnesota, have also been affected by increased immigration enforcement amid allegations of widespread welfare fraud.
Tensions were further heightened after Israel, a close US ally, formally recognised Somaliland as an independent state — a move Somalia strongly opposes, insisting the breakaway region remains part of its sovereign territory.
According to the World Food Programme, the seized aid was meant to support communities struggling with the combined effects of drought, flooding, conflict, rising food prices and declining agricultural output. The agency estimates that around 4.6 million people in Somalia are currently facing crisis-level hunger.