US suspends aid to Somalia over alleged seizure of UN food supplies
“The Trump administration has a zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft, and diversion of life-saving assistance,” a statement from the US State Department declares on X. The message, shared by the under secretary for foreign assistance, notes reports of Somali officials seizing 76 tonnes of food intended for “vulnerable Somalis.”
Washington says future aid will only resume if Somalia accepts responsibility for what it calls “unacceptable actions” and takes corrective measures.
Despite withdrawing from several UN bodies under President Donald Trump, the US remains the largest financial supporter of the WFP, contributing $2 billion in 2025—nearly one-third of the agency’s total budget.
Somalia, still struggling with the aftermath of civil war, drought, and ongoing battles against al Qaeda linked militants, has not yet issued a response. The incident adds to worsening tensions between Washington and Mogadishu.
Relations have already been strained. In November, Trump criticized Somali migrants in the US, saying they should “go back to where they came from” and “their country is no good for a reason.” Immigration raids have since targeted Somali communities, particularly in Minnesota, where officials allege widespread benefit fraud.
Further angering Mogadishu, Israel recently recognized Somaliland, a breakaway region Somalia insists remains part of its territory.
The food allegedly seized was meant to support people suffering from “drought, floods, conflict, high food prices and dwindling harvests,” according to the WFP. The agency estimates that 4.6 million Somalis currently face crisis levels of hunger.
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