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The United States suspended all assistance programs for the Somali federal government on Jan. 7 after reports surfaced alleging that Somali officials had destroyed a U.S.-funded World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse and seized 76 metric tons of food aid intended for its poverty-stricken citizens.
“The Trump Administration has a zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft, and diversion of life-saving assistance,” the U.S. Office of Foreign Assistance announced on social media, saying the United States is “deeply concerned” about the reports.
The World Food Programme is the largest humanitarian agency in the war-torn country. It provides food and nutrition assistance to people in crisis and helps drought-affected households prepare for rainy seasons with cash transfers and other campaigns, according to the organization.
The food program’s representatives did not return a request for comment about the theft.
The State Department plans to pause any future aid to the Somali government until officials address the theft concerns.
“Any resumption of assistance will be dependent upon the Somali Federal Government taking accountability for its unacceptable actions and taking appropriate remedial steps,” the U.S. Office of Foreign Assistance stated.
The United States provided nearly $770 million in assistance for projects in Somalia during former President Joe Biden’s last year in office in 2024, which is the latest full year of data, according to the Foreign Assistance Office.
Of that, about $105 million was allocated to emergency cash-based food assistance. Another $210 million was earmarked to fund a U.N. support office in Somalia.
Abdillahi Hashi Abib, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Somalia’s House of People and representative of the Gabileh District and Awdal State, responded to the State Department’s notice with frustration, pleading with the United States to investigate it.
A vendor waits for customers at her fruit and vegetable stall in the Waheen Market of Hargeisa, Somalia, on Nov. 8, 2024. Luis Tato/AFP via Getty Images
According to Abib, he has tried to report the alleged abuse to the U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu, Somalia, and other U.S. officials since 2022, including information about systemic fraud, embezzlement, and mismanagement of the food program in Somalia, but was ignored.
“I was treated as if I were the problem for holding Somali officials and WFP senior officials accountable, while the theft of food aid for the most vulnerable went unchecked,” Abib stated.
The Somali federal government’s U.S. Embassy did not return a request for comment on Jan. 7.
The foreign aid pause is the Trump administration’s latest action in a whole-of-government approach to unraveling what officials claim is systemwide federal funding fraud connected to the Somali immigrant community in Minnesota and other states.
Jill McLaughlin is an award-winning journalist covering politics, environment, and statewide issues. She has been a reporter and editor for newspapers in Oregon, Nevada, and New Mexico. Jill was born in Yosemite National Park and enjoys the majestic outdoors, traveling, golfing, and hiking.
