U.S. aid suspension deepens dispute with Somali government
A U.S. official has accused Somali authorities of destroying a World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse funded by Washington and illegally seizing food aid intended for the country’s poorest citizens.
Relations between Somalia and the United States have hit their lowest point after Washington announced it intends to halt further aid benefiting the government in Mogadishu, amid a dispute over the demolition of a WFP warehouse.
The U.S. Under Secretary of State for Foreign Assistance stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that Somali officials had destroyed a WFP warehouse funded by the U.S. and unlawfully appropriated donor-funded food aid for the most vulnerable Somali populations. As a result, Washington will suspend its aid to Somalia. The value of the aid has not yet been disclosed.
A WFP spokesperson said on Thursday that the program had recovered 75 tons of basic food supplies. Another spokesperson had stated the previous day that port authorities had demolished a warehouse containing the same quantity of aid.
The Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied on Thursday any theft of U.S. aid, stating that the supplies remain under WFP control. The ministry added that expansion and rehabilitation work is ongoing in the Mogadishu port area, where the main aid warehouse, known as the “Blue Warehouse,” is located. These operations, the ministry said, “have not affected the storage, management, or distribution of humanitarian aid.” The WFP spokesperson emphasized that the program is cooperating with port authorities to address the issue and ensure safe storage of aid following the warehouse demolition.
He noted: “The warehouse contained 75 tons of specialized nutrients intended to treat pregnant and breastfeeding women, girls, and children suffering from malnutrition. This warehouse is vital to WFP emergency operations at a time when nearly a quarter of the population (4.4 million people) faces crisis-level hunger or worse.”
A delivery note dated yesterday, issued by the Mogadishu Port Authority, indicates that the WFP has received food previously moved from the Blue Warehouse to another facility. The note appears to be signed by a WFP official in Somalia and includes a handwritten remark stating that the program will confirm final receipt of the supplies once laboratory testing confirms they are safe for human consumption.
According to a message to the local WFP director, the Somali Ministry of Ports and Maritime Transport issued an official notice in November requiring the program to vacate the Blue Warehouse by December 31 due to plans to relocate port offices.
The U.S. State Department said on Wednesday that any resumption of aid would be contingent upon the Somali government taking responsibility and implementing corrective measures.
