The United States has officially halted all assistance to the government of Somalia following accusations that local officials destroyed a United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse and illegally seized donor-funded supplies.
In a statement released on social media, the U.S. State Department underscored the Trump administration’s “zero-tolerance policy” for the theft or diversion of life-saving aid. The decision was triggered by reports that 76 tonnes of food intended for vulnerable communities had been confiscated by government authorities.
Okay News reports that this move represents a new low in the increasingly strained relations between the US and Somalia. Tensions have been exacerbated recently by President Trump’s harsh rhetoric regarding Somali migrants in the US, as well as the recent recognition of the breakaway republic of Somaliland by Israel, a close American ally. US officials have made it clear that aid will not resume until the Somali government accepts accountability for the incident and takes necessary corrective actions.
The withdrawal of support threatens to deepen the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa, as the United States is the largest financial contributor to the WFP, covering nearly a third of its budget.
According to WFP estimates, more than 4.6 million people in Somalia are currently facing crisis levels of hunger driven by drought, floods, and conflict. The Somali government, which continues to fight al-Qaeda-linked militants, has yet to issue a formal response to the suspension of aid.
