By Magdalene Wanja - Reporter
United States, 19 January 2026 - The U.S. State Department has announced it will halt foreign assistance to Somalia following the alleged demolition of a World Food Programme (WFP) emergency response warehouse.
The department said the destruction of a facility storing 76 metric tonnes of U.S.-donated food aid was unacceptable.
In an interview with the U.S.-based news outlet The Daily Wire, a senior administration official claimed that authorities at Mogadishu Port carried out the demolition without prior notice or coordination with international partners, raising concerns about the protection of humanitarian supplies.
A diplomatic cable from the U.S. Embassy in Somalia, dated 6 January 2026, stated that on 3 January 2026, authorities at Mogadishu Port demolished the WFP warehouse without notifying donor countries, including the United States.
The cable said the demolition likely destroyed the emergency food supplies and noted that the decision was approved despite objections from the WFP.
The cable also cited possible corruption at the port, which is managed by a Turkish company with ties to Somalia’s Minister of Ports, describing contracts that may favour Turkish interests.
The demolition affected the 76 metric tonnes of U.S. food aid, while an additional 1,650 metric tonnes scheduled to arrive in January had to be stored elsewhere.
The WFP warned that the demolition violated UN diplomatic protocols. The U.S. Embassy recommended that the Secretary of State consider pausing or canceling aid until Somalia returned or compensated donors.
On 7 January 2026, the State Department announced a pause on all aid programmes benefiting the Somali Federal Government, with officials noting that U.S. assistance could be permanently ended by May.
The WFP had been served an eviction notice in December, but the Somali government initially allowed continued use of the warehouse.
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Although Somali authorities claimed the food had been relocated to containers, the WFP said this was unlikely, as the supplies require specialised storage and were probably ruined.
The aid had been provided through U.S. programmes, including Title II “Food for Peace” and International Disaster Assistance, with WFP managing its distribution.
Concerns over mismanagement of humanitarian aid extend beyond this incident.
Abdillahi Hashi Abib, a member of Somalia’s parliament and Foreign Affairs Committee, said 90% of Somalia’s humanitarian assistance comes from the U.S., yet some aid has been diverted by a network linked to the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA).
The United States and Somalia have maintained a complex relationship shaped by humanitarian, development, and security cooperation.
The U.S. is one of Somalia’s largest aid contributors, providing food, disaster relief, and development support, while also assisting Somali security forces with training, funding, and technical assistance to counter militant groups such as Al-Shabaab.
At the same time, logistical challenges, governance issues, and coordination between federal authorities and international partners have occasionally complicated the delivery and oversight of aid.
