U.S. Pauses Assistance to Somali Government Over Alleged Aid Misuse as Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
GOOBJOOG NEWS|WASHINGTON: The United States has paused all ongoing assistance programs that directly benefit the Federal Government of Somalia, citing alleged misuse and diversion of humanitarian aid.
The U.S. State Department Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs, and Religious Freedom said in a post on its X account that the move followed reports of destruction of US-funded World Food Programme (WFP) in Somalia.
“The State Department has paused all ongoing U.S. assistance programs which benefit the Somali Federal Government,” the statement said, adding that any resumption of support will depend on Somali authorities “taking accountability for unacceptable actions and taking appropriate remedial steps.”
The decision comes amid reports that Somali government officials destroyed a U.S.-funded World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse and illegally seized 76 metric tons of donor-funded food aid intended for vulnerable civilians.
The Trump Administration has reiterated what it described as a zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft, and diversion of life-saving assistance, the statement added.
The pause lands at a critical moment for Somalia, which is facing a severe and worsening humanitarian crisis. According to UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) data, millions of Somalis are currently in need of urgent food assistance, health services, and clean water, with funding gaps already forcing aid agencies to scale back operations.
Humanitarian actors warn that suspending assistance linked to government systems risks further weakening aid delivery at a time when drought impacts, conflict, and economic pressures have left large parts of the population food insecure. OCHA has repeatedly cautioned that reduced donor funding could translate into higher malnutrition rates, particularly among children and displaced communities.
While the U.S. move targets assistance benefiting the federal government, aid officials say the broader impact may still be felt across humanitarian coordination and logistics, which rely on cooperation with state institutions.
Somali authorities had not issued an official response by the time of publication.
The United States has long been one of Somalia’s largest humanitarian donors, and analysts say the latest decision sends a strong political and financial signal, even as humanitarian needs across the country continue to rise.