MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government moved to reassure key donors after a dispute over a humanitarian food warehouse at the Port of Mogadishu prompted the United States to suspend some assistance, acknowledging missteps and pledging corrective action.
In a statement late Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said all food aid removed from a donor-funded warehouse affected by port expansion work had been fully returned to the United Nations World Food Programme. The ministry expressed regret over the incident and reaffirmed Somalia’s commitment to humanitarian principles and close cooperation with international partners.
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“All humanitarian commodities removed from the affected facility have been returned in full to the World Food Programme,” the government said, emphasizing that the country remains reliant on international support as millions of Somalis face food insecurity.
The dispute centers on a WFP storage site known locally as the “blue warehouse,” located within the port complex. Authorities say the site fell within a redevelopment zone for ongoing expansion, and that a larger, more suitable warehouse inside the port has since been allocated for WFP use to keep relief deliveries moving.
Officials conceded the episode exposed gaps in coordination and communication with donors and aid agencies. The Foreign Ministry said it will review how the eviction unfolded and put in place safeguards to stop similar disruptions from occurring in the future.
The clarification followed sharp criticism from Washington, which accused Somali officials of demolishing a U.S.-funded WFP facility and unlawfully seizing donor-funded food stocks. In response, the United States said it would pause certain forms of assistance benefiting the Somali government, signaling a serious breach of trust with one of Somalia’s most important backers.
A senior State Department official overseeing foreign assistance said the handling of the warehouse raised concerns about respect for humanitarian operations and compliance with donor agreements. The U.S. pause underscores the stakes for Somalia, where international aid and security support remain central to stabilizing the economy and countering persistent humanitarian needs.
Somali authorities have maintained that the port works did not compromise the custody, management or distribution of humanitarian aid. In its latest statement, the government stressed its “full commitment to transparency and accountability,” and framed its partnership with WFP, the United States and other donors as indispensable to averting hunger and sustaining aid flows.
To rebuild confidence and avoid further operational friction, the government said it is taking the following steps:
- Returning humanitarian commodities to WFP and confirming full inventories.
- Assigning a larger replacement warehouse inside the Port of Mogadishu to ensure uninterrupted aid operations.
- Reviewing decision-making and coordination protocols with donors and aid agencies, with safeguards to prevent future disruptions.
The port of Mogadishu is undergoing major expansion, with cranes and heavy equipment reshaping a facility crucial to the import of commercial goods and humanitarian supplies. The government has framed the works as vital to economic recovery. Yet the clash over the blue warehouse highlights the delicate balance between infrastructure ambitions and the obligations that come with managing donor-funded aid pipelines.
With the country facing deep economic strain and widespread food insecurity, officials acknowledged that resolving the dispute quickly is essential. Restoring trust with partners — and keeping the flow of life-saving assistance on track — will be a key test of Somalia’s pledges on transparency, coordination and respect for humanitarian operations.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
