By Swastika Sahu
On January 7th, the State Department announced that it has halted all U.S. support for Somalia’s federal government due to claims that Somali officials damaged an American-funded warehouse owned by the World Food Program and confiscated 76 metric tons of food aid meant for needy civilians.
“The Trump Administration enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy against waste, theft, and diversion of essential aid,” the department stated.
The State Department has halted all active U.S. aid initiatives that support the Somali Federal Government,” it stated. “Any continuation of aid will rely on the Somali Federal Government accepting responsibility for its unacceptable behaviors and implementing suitable corrective measures.”
Any continuation of aid would rely on the Somali government “taking responsibility for its unacceptable actions and implementing suitable corrective measures,” it stated.
The United States continues to be the largest donor to the World Food Program (WFP), contributing $2 billion in 2025, nearly one-third of its overall funding; despite pulling out of a number of UN organizations during President Donald Trump’s administration.
The Somali government, fighting a protracted war against al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamist rebels while attempting to reconstruct the nation following years of catastrophic drought and civil war, has not yet responded.
This is the most recent illustration of how Mogadishu and Washington’s relationship is failing.
However on Thursday, the U.S. administration’s claim that Mogadishu authorities demolished an American-funded World Food Program warehouse and confiscated food aid intended for poor civilians was refuted by Somalia’s government.
According to a senior U.S. State Department official, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud ordered the demolition of the World Food Program’s warehouse at the Mogadishu Port “with no prior notification or coordination with international donor countries, including the United States.”
The individual discussed private reporting from U.S. officials in the area while speaking on condition of anonymity.
Somalia’s foreign ministry said that the food in question was not destroyed and that “ the goods substantiated in recent reports remain under the guardianship and control of the World Food Program, including backing provided by the United States. ”
The ministry said that expansion and repurposing works at the Mogadishu Port are underway as part of broader developments, but ongoing conditioning there have not affected the custody and distribution of humanitarian assistance.