US suspends assistance to Somalia

US President Donald Trump/HANDOUT 

The United States has suspended all assistance programmes that directly benefit the Federal Government of Somalia.

This is following allegations that the government officials destroyed a World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse and seized food aid meant for vulnerable communities.

In a statement, the US State Department said it had paused ongoing support and would only resume cooperation after the Somali government takes responsibility.

“Any resumption of assistance will be dependent upon the Somali Federal Government taking accountability for its unacceptable actions and taking appropriate remedial steps,” Trump’s administration said.

“The suspension affects programmes that channel assistance through or in partnership with the Somali Federal Government.”

Washington expressed deep concern after reports alleged that Somali officials were involved in the destruction of a US-funded WFP storage facility and the illegal seizure of 76 metric tons of donor-funded food supplies.

The aid was intended for vulnerable Somalis confronting persistent food insecurity.

The Trump administration reiterated its position against abuse of humanitarian aid.

“The administration has a zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft and diversion of life-saving assistance,” the statement added.

The administration’s decision comes amid a ratcheting up of attacks against Somali immigrants, including President Donald Trump’s remark in December.

Then, he alleged that they were “completely taking over the once great State of Minnesota” following a massive fraud scandal involving social services.

Trump ended temporary legal protections for Somali residents in Minnesota in late November, claiming the state had become a “hub of fraudulent money laundering activity.”

The suspension marks one of the strongest steps the US has taken in recent years regarding accountability in Somalia’s aid sector.

Somalia relies heavily on foreign assistance to support food distribution, security operations and institutional capacity-building.

The alleged diversion of relief supplies comes at a time when humanitarian agencies are warning of worsening hunger conditions in several parts of the country.

WFP and other partners have been conducting emergency food assistance programmes to reach families affected by conflict, displacement, and recurrent climate-driven shocks.

According to reports, the U.S. contributed more than $2 billion in 2025 to the WFP, the world’s leading humanitarian organization, providing emergency food aid to millions of people affected by various crises, such as hunger, conflict or natural disasters.

The WFP had warned last October of a worsening hunger crisis fueled, in part, by funding cuts that have led to fewer Somalis receiving aid and higher levels of malnutrition.

The Somali Federal Government has not yet issued a public response to the US suspension or the allegations raised.