Overview
- The State Department said it paused all U.S. assistance programs that benefit Somalia’s federal government after reports of aid destruction and seizure.
- Undersecretary Jeremy Lewin announced the move and cited allegations that officials seized 76 metric tons of donor-funded food meant for vulnerable Somalis.
- A WFP spokesperson said a Mogadishu port warehouse was demolished by port authorities and held about 75 metric tons of specialized nutrition supplies for malnourished pregnant and breastfeeding women and young children.
- Washington said resuming assistance depends on the Somali government taking responsibility and implementing remedial steps to address the incident.
- Somali officials had not responded to the allegations, and the scope of the pause remains unclear as U.S. humanitarian funding has been cut back and detailed country data have not been released.