Somalia rejects U.S. claim over destruction of food aid warehouse in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia (Journos News) – Somalia’s government has rejected U.S. allegations that authorities in Mogadishu destroyed an American-funded food aid warehouse and seized humanitarian supplies meant for vulnerable civilians. The dispute has led Washington to suspend assistance to Somalia’s federal government, while the United Nations’ World Food Programme has confirmed that one of its warehouses at Mogadishu port was demolished by local authorities.

Somalia’s foreign ministry said the food aid at the center of the dispute had not been destroyed and remains under the custody of the World Food Programme (WFP), a Rome-based U.N. agency. In a statement issued Thursday, the ministry said ongoing expansion and redevelopment work at Mogadishu port had not interfered with the handling or delivery of humanitarian assistance.

“The commodities referenced in recent reports remain under the custody and control of the World Food Programme, including assistance provided by the United States,” the ministry said. It added that Somalia remained committed to humanitarian principles, transparency, and accountability, and valued its partnership with international donors, including Washington. The statement did not provide details on why the warehouse was demolished or how decisions around the port works were made.

The government’s response followed a sharp move by the United States. On Wednesday, the U.S. State Department announced the suspension of all assistance provided directly to Somalia’s federal government, citing reports that port authorities had demolished a WFP warehouse and seized food aid. The department said the action reflected the Trump administration’s “zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft and diversion of life-saving assistance.”

A senior U.S. State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss diplomatic reporting, said the demolition took place at the direction of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and occurred without prior notification or coordination with international donors, including the United States.

World Food Programme confirms warehouse demolition

The World Food Programme confirmed that its warehouse at Mogadishu port had been demolished by port authorities. In an initial statement to The Associated Press, the agency said the facility contained 75 metric tons of specialized nutritional food. The supplies were intended to treat malnourished pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as infants and young children.

In a subsequent update, the WFP said it had retrieved the full 75 metric tons of nutritional commodities. The agency did not explain how the supplies were recovered, where they were moved, or whether their distribution to beneficiaries had been delayed as a result of the demolition.

The U.S. State Department responded by saying it welcomed reports that some of the food aid had been recovered, but stressed that its investigation into the incident was continuing. “We’ve urged the Federal Government of Somalia to promptly follow through on their commitment to provide an account of the incident,” the department said.

Aid suspension adds pressure in a fragile context

Somalia, located in the Horn of Africa, is among the world’s poorest and most fragile countries. Decades of armed conflict, political instability, and persistent insecurity have been compounded by repeated climate shocks, including prolonged droughts and severe flooding. As a result, millions of Somalis rely on humanitarian assistance for food, health care, and basic services.

The United States has been one of Somalia’s largest donors for years. During the final year of Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration, Washington provided about $770 million in assistance for Somalia-related programs, according to U.S. government figures. Only a small share of that funding went directly to the Somali government, with most support delivered through U.N. agencies and international non-governmental organizations.

It remains unclear how much funding will be affected by the current suspension. The Trump administration has significantly reduced U.S. foreign aid spending, dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development, and has not released updated country-by-country data detailing current assistance levels.

Broader political tensions

The aid suspension comes amid wider political tensions between Washington and Mogadishu. The Trump administration has intensified criticism of Somali refugees and migrants in the United States, including allegations of fraud linked to child care centers in Minnesota. It has also imposed stricter limits on Somali nationals seeking to enter the U.S. and tightened rules affecting those already living there.

Somalia is not alone in facing increased scrutiny over U.S. assistance. On Thursday, the U.S. Embassy in South Sudan announced the suspension of foreign assistance to a county in Jonglei state, with similar measures under review in Western Bahr el-Ghazal state. In a statement, the embassy accused South Sudanese officials of abusing U.S. aid rather than working in partnership to support civilians.

“These measures follow continued abuse, exploitation, and theft directed against U.S. foreign assistance by South Sudanese officials at national, state, and county levels,” the statement said. South Sudan’s government did not immediately respond.

Unanswered questions

For humanitarian agencies operating across East Africa, the dispute highlights growing strains between donor governments and aid recipients at a time when humanitarian needs remain acute. While the World Food Programme has confirmed that the food supplies in Mogadishu were recovered, key questions remain unanswered, including why the warehouse was demolished, how the incident unfolded, and whether safeguards were followed.

As investigations continue, the episode has raised concerns about trust, coordination, and transparency between Somalia’s authorities and their international partners. For now, both sides maintain sharply different accounts of what happened, with potential implications for future aid flows to one of the world’s most aid-dependent countries.