UK Announces £6 Million Drought Aid During Minister’s Visit to Somalia

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The United Kingdom has announced £6 million in new humanitarian funding to support drought-affected communities in Somalia during a visit to Mogadishu by its Minister for International Development and Africa, Jennifer Chapman.
The funding, unveiled during the Minister’s first official trip to the country, is expected to deliver life-saving assistance including nutrition, health services and emergency cash support to more than 129,000 people in areas hardest hit by drought.
During the visit, Chapman met Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at Villa Somalia, where discussions focused on the escalating drought risk, humanitarian needs and strengthening the long-standing partnership between Somalia and the UK.
President Hassan Sheikh briefed the delegation on Somalia’s progress in state-building, security reform and the democratic process, while thanking the British government for its continued support in advancing peace, counter-terrorism efforts and development priorities.
The new £6 million forms part of a broader £61 million UK funding package for the 2025/26 financial year aimed at addressing both immediate humanitarian needs and the underlying drivers of crisis in Somalia.
Chapman said the UK-Somalia partnership is increasingly focused on building resilience and long-term stability, describing a shift from traditional donor support to a more investment-driven development approach.
The Minister also welcomed the activation of the UK-supported African Risk Capacity drought insurance policy, which triggered $3.4 million in rapid payouts to the Somali government for emergency response. Additional ARC Replica mechanisms have provided further support to humanitarian partners including the World Food Programme and the Start Network.
As part of her programme, Chapman toured a World Food Programme warehouse in Mogadishu and later met leadership of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia and the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia, reaffirming the UK’s commitment to Somalia’s security and stability.
The visit follows earlier engagements between the Somali presidency and the UK delegation, where both sides reaffirmed strategic cooperation in security, development and investment, describing Somalia’s stability as vital to the wider Horn of Africa and the African continent.