Washington– The U.S. State Department said Wednesday it has suspended all U.S. aid to the Somali federal government over allegations that Somali officials destroyed a U.S.-funded World Food Program warehouse and seized 76 metric tons of food. Food aid allocated to poor civilians.
“The Trump administration has a zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft, and diversion of life-saving aid,” the department said in a statement.
“The State Department has temporarily suspended all ongoing US assistance programs that benefit the Federal Government of Somalia,” she added. He added, “Any resumption of aid will depend on the Somali federal government being held accountable for its unacceptable actions and taking appropriate remedial steps.”
The suspension comes as the Trump administration escalates Criticism of Somali refugees and immigrants In the United States, including well-publicized Fraud allegations related to child care centers In Minnesota. He slapped heavily Restrictions on Somalis wishing to come to the United States And make it difficult for those already in the United States to stay.
It was not immediately clear how much aid would be affected by the suspension because the Trump administration reduced foreign aid expenditures. Dismantling USAID No new data was released for each individual country.
The United States provided $770 million in aid to projects in Somalia during the last year of Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration, but only a small portion of this amount went directly to the government.
The Horn of Africa, where Somalia is located, is and remains one of the poorest countries in the world She suffers from chronic conflict and insecurity exacerbated by multiple natural disasters, including severe droughts, for decades.