Senator Accuses IDP Aid Workers of Fund Misuse

Somalia, 25 October 2025 — Somali Senator Muse Sudi Yalahow has sharply criticized individuals and organizations managing internally displaced persons (IDPs), accusing them of misusing humanitarian aid funds to construct “unreasonable and unproductive” private buildings in cities.

Speaking during the second reading of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Bill in the Upper House, in Mogadishu, Senator Muse alleged that resources intended for vulnerable groups were being diverted.

“Those handling the affairs of displaced people have built houses in cities that make no sense,” Senator Muse said.

He further alleged that certain humanitarian organizations and NGOs are exploiting the plight of displaced people by unnecessarily relocating them. He warned that this practice is often driven by a desire to access more donor funding rather than responding to genuine insecurity or crisis.

“Some of them tell people, ‘we can’t assist you where you are, so come to this camp,’ even though there’s no actual problem in that area. Those people should be stopped,” he warned.

Senator Muse called for strict accountability systems and continuous oversight to ensure aid reaches its intended beneficiaries.

His remarks intensify the current debate in the Upper House over the IDPs Bill, which aims to regulate the protection and rights of displaced persons in Somalia, while simultaneously working to curb exploitation, corruption, and misuse of humanitarian projects nationwide.