Mogadish, Somalia — The World Food Programme said it has retrieved 75 metric tons of specialised nutritional commodities after port authorities demolished a warehouse used for its Somalia operations at Mogadishu port, an incident that has sparked a dispute between Somalia and the United States.
The United States says Somali officials destroyed a U.S.-funded WFP warehouse and illegally seized donor-funded food aid intended for vulnerable Somalis. Somalia denies any theft and says WFP still holds the supplies.
Aid paused
The State Department’s under secretary for foreign assistance said in a post on X on Wednesday that Somali government officials destroyed a U.S.-funded WFP warehouse.
He also alleged officials illegally seized donor-funded food aid. He said Washington would suspend aid to Somalia. U.S. officials did not immediately specify the value of the affected assistance.
A U.S. official said Washington was “glad” to hear reports that WFP had recovered certain commodities.
The official said the administration is continuing its investigation into diversion and misuse of assistance in Somalia. The official added that the United States has urged Somalia’s federal government to promptly account for the incident.
Somalia’s foreign ministry, in a press statement dated Jan. 8, said it had taken note of the U.S. allegations.
It said the commodities referenced in recent reports remain “under the custody and control” of WFP, including assistance provided by the United States. It also said the dispute has not disrupted humanitarian operations.
Port notice
WFP has not disputed the demolition. A spokesperson said port authorities demolished the “blue warehouse” at Mogadishu port. The spokesperson said WFP is working with the authorities to address the issue and secure safe storage for the food.
Somalia said the warehouse is located within the Mogadishu Port area, where authorities are carrying out expansion and repurposing work as part of broader port development.
It said those operations have not affected the custody, management, or distribution of humanitarian assistance.
Documents cited by Reuters suggest officials discussed the issue for weeks. Somalia’s Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport gave WFP official notice in November to vacate the blue warehouse by Dec. 31. The ministry cited plans to relocate port offices.
A Mogadishu Port Authority handover note dated Wednesday and seen by Reuters says WFP took over food that had been shifted from the blue warehouse to another warehouse.
The note appears to be signed by a WFP Somalia official. It includes a handwritten note stating that WFP will confirm final receipt once laboratory tests confirm that the commodities are suitable for human consumption.
Hunger pressure
WFP said the demolished warehouse contained specialised nutritious foods intended to treat malnourished pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls, as well as young children.
The agency described the warehouse as crucial for emergency operations at a moment when “almost a quarter” of Somalia’s population, about 4.4 million people, faces crisis levels of hunger or worse.
Beyond the disputed consignment, WFP’s latest Somalia emergency overview describes a wider crisis. It says 4.6 million people face crisis levels of hunger, and 1.8 million children under five suffer acute malnutrition.
It also cites large-scale displacement driven by conflict and drought, and warns that funding gaps are forcing the WFP to reduce or halt assistance as needs persist.
U.S. officials have said the suspension targets programmes that benefit the Somali federal government. The controversy centres on a WFP storage site and food commodities intended for civilians.
Washington has tied any resumption of assistance to Somali accountability and remedial steps. Somalia says it is reviewing the matter through a technical inter-agency process coordinated with humanitarian partners, and pledged further updates after it completes the review.
The dispute comes as the Trump administration moves to tighten U.S. foreign aid spending. It has also signalled a shift in Africa policy from assistance toward trade.
The U.S. embassy in South Sudan has also announced a separate suspension of assistance in parts of that country over alleged interference and theft of aid. The embassy cited concerns over aid safeguards.
Other issues have also strained U.S.–Somalia relations. Washington has pursued stricter immigration policies affecting Somali nationals.
It has also increased scrutiny of alleged fraud cases involving parts of the Somali community in Minnesota. U.S. officials say those issues have complicated ties with Mogadishu.