US halts help to Somalia over claims WFP meals help was illegally seized

[ad_1] The US has suspended all help to the federal government of Somalia, alleging that officers destroyed a UN World Meals Programme (WFP) warehouse and seized "donor-funded meals help".

"The Trump administration has a zero-tolerance coverage for waste, theft, and diversion of life-saving help," stated a US state division assertion on X.

The message, posted on the account of the beneath secretary for overseas help, stated studies had been acquired about officers illegally seizing 76 tonnes of meals supposed for "susceptible Somalis".

Somali has denied the allegations, saying that the growth work beneath manner within the Mogadishu port, the place the warehouse is positioned, had not affected any help storage.

It confused that every one the humanitarian help in query was nonetheless "beneath the custody and management of the World Meals Programme together with help offered by the US".

A WFP employees member in Mogadishu, talking on situation of anonymity, confirmed to the AFP information company that the meals help had not been stolen.

"The warehouse was partially demolished through the weekend with out the data of the WFP crew, however there was no looting concerned," they stated.

The US stated it might solely resume help if the Somali authorities took "accountability for its unacceptable actions and... acceptable remedial steps".

Though the US has withdrawn from a number of UN organisations beneath President Donald Trump, it stays by far the biggest contributor to the WFP, paying $2bn (£1.5bn) in 2025 - nearly a 3rd of its complete funding.

Somalia's authorities is battling al-Qaeda-linked Islamist militants because it tries to rebuild the nation after a devastating civil warfare and years of drought.

That is the newest instance of the deteriorating relations between Washington and Mogadishu.

Final month, Trump lashed out at Somali migrants dwelling within the US, telling reporters they need to "return to the place they got here from" and "their nation isn't any good for a cause".

Communities have been focused in immigration raids as the federal government alleges large-scale profit fraud in Minnesota, the US state with the biggest Somali group within the US.

The current recognition by US ally Israel of the breakaway republic of Somaliland, which Somalia considers to be a part of its territory, has additional angered Mogadishu.

The help that was allegedly seized by Somali officers was meant to assist individuals address the consequences of "drought, floods, battle, excessive meals costs and dwindling harvests", in response to the WFP.