The United States announced Wednesday that it would lift the suspension of aid to Somalia, after saying authorities in the East African country had taken responsibility for actions earlier this month which had disrupted humanitarian operations.
Despite the American statement that the Somalia would have recognized his responsibility in the disruption of the aid World Food Program (PAM) at Mogadishu port — disruption leading to suspension — The Somali government did not confirm this claim on Wednesday and did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Associated Press.
Although the suspension was lifted, it was not immediately clear when aid deliveries would resume. WFP did not respond immediately to requests for information.
The US State Department said on January 7 it had suspended all assistance to the Somali federal government over allegations that Somali officials had destroyed a warehouse financed by the United States and belonging to the WFP — a United Nations agency — and seized 75 metric tons (82 tons) of food aid intended for destitute civilians.
Malnutrition
The WFP had indicated in an earlier statement that its warehouse had been demolished by the Somali authorities. This contained specialized foods intended for young children as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women suffering from malnutrition. The organization then clarified that it had recovered the food, without providing additional details.
Somalia's Foreign Ministry rejected the U.S. accusations, saying the port's expansion and construction work had not affected the custody or distribution of humanitarian aid.
The Office of the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Aid posted a message on Platform X on Wednesday indicating that the United States would "resume WFP food distribution while continuing to review our overall assistance posture in Somalia".
The Trump administration has zero tolerance for "waste, theft or misappropriation of American resources", the statement added.
The aid suspension came as the Trump administration stepped up its criticism of refugees and somali migrants in the United States, particularly in connection with accusations of fraud concerning daycares in the Minnesota. It also imposed significant restrictions on Somalis wishing to enter or remain in the United States.
Located in the Horn of Africa, Somalia is one of the poorest countries in the world and has for decades been plagued by chronic conflict and persistent insecurity, compounded by multiple natural disasters, including severe droughts.
