The United States has halted all assistance to Somalia after accusing Somali officials of destroying a World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse and seizing donor-funded food intended for vulnerable populations, the State Department announced on X.

In a message posted on the account of the under secretary for foreign assistance, the US government said it had received reports that Somali officials illegally appropriated 76 tonnes of WFP food aid. “The Trump administration has a zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft, and diversion of life-saving assistance,” the statement said, framing the suspension as an immediate response to alleged misconduct.

Officials in Washington made clear that any resumption of support will hinge on Somalia taking concrete steps to “take accountability for its unacceptable actions and taking appropriate remedial steps.” The terms were not spelled out in detail, but the implication is that investigations, restitution, or changes in oversight would be prerequisites for restoring the aid flow.

The move is notable both for its timing and its potential humanitarian impact. Despite broader withdrawals from some UN bodies under President Donald Trump, the US remains the single largest contributor to the WFP, pledging roughly $2 billion for 2025—nearly one-third of the agency’s funding. The withheld assistance therefore represents a significant blow to relief operations aimed at addressing acute needs in Somalia.

WFP has said the seized shipments were earmarked to help Somalis suffering from drought, floods, conflict, high food prices and poor harvests. Those conditions have left millions in need across the Horn of Africa nation, where decades of civil war, recurrent famine and an ongoing insurgency led by al-Qaeda-linked militants have complicated delivery and distribution of humanitarian assistance.

Mogadishu has not issued an official response to the US allegations. The suspension nevertheless deepens an already strained relationship between Washington and Somalia. In recent weeks, President Trump publicly criticized Somali migrants in the United States, and the US has faced domestic controversy over immigration enforcement targeting Somali communities—particularly in Minnesota, which hosts the country’s largest Somali diaspora. At the same time, Somalia has protested international diplomatic moves it views as undermining its territorial integrity, including recent recognition by Israel of Somaliland, the breakaway region that Somalia considers its own.

Humanitarian actors warn that interrupting contributions from major donors can quickly undermine WFP’s ability to maintain food distributions and sustain emergency operations. Aid workers face recurring obstacles in Somalia—from insecurity and restricted access to bureaucratic interference and alleged diversion—that complicate delivery even when funding is secure.

The US announcement places immediate pressure on Somali authorities to respond publicly and on international agencies to assess how the suspension will affect vulnerable populations on the ground. For now, families dependent on lifesaving food aid face increased uncertainty as diplomatic and accountability questions play out between Mogadishu, Washington and the humanitarian community.