US halts assistance to Somalia over claims food aid was illegally seized

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete January 8, 2026 at 10:15 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

The US has suspended all assistance to Somalia following allegations that Somali officials seized 76 tonnes of US-funded food aid intended for vulnerable populations. The US State Department cited a "zero-tolerance policy" for waste and theft of aid, demanding accountability and remedial action from the Somali government before assistance can resume. The seized aid was intended to help 4.6 million Somalis facing crisis levels of hunger due to drought, floods, conflict, and high food prices. This suspension comes amid deteriorating relations between the US and Somalia, including President Trump's criticism of Somali migrants and the US ally Israel's recognition of Somaliland. The US remains the largest contributor to the WFP, which was to distribute the seized aid.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Israel 30% Minnesota 30% Al-Qaeda 40% Somaliland 40% Mogadishu ×250% US State Department 60% Donald Trump ×270% World Food Programme (WFP) ×380% United States ×890% Somalia ×590%

Keywords

food aid 100% us assistance 90% somalia 90% world food programme 80% corruption 70% humanitarian aid 60% drought 50% us foreign policy 50% international relations 40%