How Trump administration reacted after Somalia returned seized U.S.-funded WFP aid
The action led to the removal of U.S.-funded food aid stored at the facility.
The United States has announced it will resume food distribution in Somalia through the World Food Programme (WFP) after disruptions caused by actions taken by the federal government, U.S. Foreign Assistance said on Thursday.
In a statement posted on X, U.S. Foreign Assistance said the disruption involved U.S.-funded assistance and confirmed that food deliveries would restart as Washington continues to reassess its overall aid engagement with Somalia.
“The Trump Administration maintains a firm zero tolerance policy for waste, theft, or diversion of U.S. resources,” the statement said.
The World Food Programme remains a critical provider of humanitarian aid in Somalia, where millions of people rely on food assistance amid prolonged conflict, recurring drought, and deepening economic hardship.
The aid disruption emerged earlier this month after Somali authorities demolished part of a WFP warehouse at the Port of Mogadishu during ongoing port expansion works.
The action led to the removal of U.S.-funded food aid stored at the facility.
Somalia’s federal government later confirmed that all humanitarian food supplies taken from the affected warehouse had been returned to WFP control.
In a statement issued late Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the government accepts full responsibility for the incident and expressed regret, while reaffirming its commitment to humanitarian principles and cooperation with international partners.
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“All humanitarian commodities removed from the affected facility have been returned in full to the World Food Programme,” the ministry said.
To prevent further disruption to aid operations, authorities said a larger and more secure warehouse has been allocated to the WFP within the port area.
Officials said the new facility is expected to improve storage capacity and ensure the uninterrupted distribution of humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities.
The government also acknowledged gaps in coordination and information-sharing with donors and aid agencies, pledging to review the circumstances surrounding the incident and introduce safeguards to prevent similar issues in the future.
The clarification followed strong criticism from Washington.
The U.S. State Department recently announced the suspension of government-to-government assistance to Somalia, accusing officials of demolishing a U.S.-funded WFP warehouse—commonly referred to as the “blue warehouse”—and illegally seizing donor-funded food aid.
A senior U.S. official said the destruction of the facility and the handling of humanitarian supplies raised serious concerns about respect for donor agreements and humanitarian operations.
U.S. officials have claimed the incident may have affected approximately 76 metric tons of American-donated food, with more than 1,600 metric tons reportedly relocated.
Somali authorities have repeatedly rejected claims that any food aid was destroyed or seized, insisting that all humanitarian supplies remained under WFP custody throughout the port expansion works.
About the Author
Osman Hassan is a Senior Editor at the Somali Report based in Nairobi with over 15 years of experience in journalism. He has worked with local and international media outlets in Somalia and is an award-winning journalist. His reporting focuses on politics, security, and regional affairs in the Horn of Africa.