The Trump administration has accused Somali officers of destroying a World Meals Programme warehouse that contained US-funded meals help.
Revealed On 8 Jan 2026
The USA says that it has suspended all help to the federal government of Somalia, alleging that officers destroyed a World Meals Programme warehouse full of meals help it funded.
In a social media post on Wednesday, the administration of US President Donald Trump alleged that Somali officers had seized 76 metric tonnes of donor-funded meals help that had been supposed for Somalis in want.
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“The US is deeply involved by stories that Federal Authorities of Somalia officers have destroyed a US-funded World Meals Programme (WFP) warehouse and illegally seized 76 metric tons of donor-funded meals help for susceptible Somalis,” the put up mentioned.
“The Trump Administration has a zero-tolerance coverage for waste, theft, and diversion of life-saving help.”
The announcement was made on the social media platform representing the US State Division’s Below Secretary for Overseas Help, Humanitarian Affairs and Non secular Freedom.
Somali officers haven’t but responded to the allegations of help theft.
Nonetheless, the stark measure continues a current development underneath the Trump administration. In current months, President Trump has leaned into criticism of Somalis dwelling within the United States and positioned restrictions on Somalis looking for to enter the US.
His administration has additionally stepped up air strikes concentrating on armed teams in Somalia itself.
Notably, in a December cupboard assembly, Trump personally levelled racist assaults in opposition to the Somali neighborhood within the US, saying they’re “destroying America”. He additionally attacked Ilhan Omar, a Democratic consultant from Somalia who arrived within the US as a toddler refugee.
“We’re going to go the flawed approach if we maintain taking in rubbish into our nation,” Trump mentioned on the December 2 assembly.
“Ilhan Omar is rubbish, simply rubbish. Her associates are rubbish. These aren’t those that work. These aren’t those that say, ‘Let’s go, come on, let’s make this place nice.’ These are those that do nothing however complain.”
As a part of his tirade, Trump cited a fraud scandal within the midwestern state of Minnesota, which has seen some members of the big Somali neighborhood there charged with wrongdoing.
White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has since indicated that Trump might use denaturalisation – the revocation of US citizenship – as “a tool” to penalise Somali Individuals concerned within the fraud scheme.
The Trump administration has additionally ramped up immigration enforcement raids in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a metropolis with the most important Somali community within the US.
The Trump administration has dramatically scaled again US humanitarian assistance since returning to the White Home in 2025, and it isn’t clear how a lot help can be affected by the suspension of help.
Trump’s Democratic predecessor Joe Biden had offered about $770m in help for initiatives in Somalia, however solely a small portion went in the direction of the Somali authorities.
In saying Wednesday’s help freeze, the US State Division signalled that help might resume – however solely with an acknowledgement of accountability from the Somali authorities.
“Any resumption of help can be dependent upon the Somali Federal Authorities, taking accountability for its unacceptable actions and taking applicable remedial steps.”
