Somalia’s government has dismissed accusations by the United States that authorities in Mogadishu demolished an American-funded World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse and seized food supplies intended for vulnerable civilians.
The allegations led the U.S. State Department to suspend all assistance to Somalia’s federal government, citing a zero-tolerance policy on the misuse or diversion of life-saving humanitarian aid. A senior U.S. official claimed the warehouse at Mogadishu Port was destroyed on the orders of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, without prior notification to international donors.
In response, Somalia’s foreign ministry rejected the allegations, stating that no food aid was destroyed and that the supplies remain in the custody of the WFP. The ministry said ongoing port expansion works have not disrupted humanitarian operations and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
Opposition figures, however, have called for further scrutiny. “This is extremely troubling, particularly as Somalia is facing a severe drought,” said Member of Parliament Abdurahman Abdishakur Warsameh. “Government assurances alone are insufficient. Any damage to or repurposing of humanitarian facilities during a crisis is irresponsible and must be subjected to an independent and transparent investigation.”
Somalia continues to rely heavily on international assistance. The United States provided about $770 million in aid last year, although only a small portion was channeled directly to the federal government. It remains unclear how much of that assistance will be affected by the suspension.
