MOGADISHU — The United States will resume World Food Programme food distributions in Somalia after the federal government accepted responsibility for actions that disrupted humanitarian operations at the Port of Mogadishu earlier this month, clearing the way for life-saving aid to reach millions facing acute food insecurity.
U.S. officials said Somalia’s acknowledgment of accountability satisfied conditions set after Washington halted certain assistance on Jan. 7, when it accused Somali officials of demolishing a U.S.-funded WFP warehouse in Mogadishu and unlawfully seizing 76 metric tons of donor-funded food meant for vulnerable communities.
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Resuming distributions does not end U.S. scrutiny. A senior American official said the United States’ humanitarian policy remains unchanged and that the government maintains a zero-tolerance stance toward waste, theft or diversion of assistance. Even as deliveries restart, the broader U.S. assistance posture in Somalia will continue to be reviewed, the official said.
The federal government in Mogadishu initially rejected the allegations, arguing that port expansion and repurposing near the “blue warehouse” had not interfered with the custody, management or distribution of aid. In recent days, however, Somali authorities confirmed all humanitarian commodities removed from the site were returned in full to the World Food Programme, formally accepted responsibility, and expressed regret for the incident.
Officials also said the government has allocated a larger, more suitable warehouse within the port complex to ensure secure, uninterrupted operations and will strengthen coordination and communication to prevent a repeat. “The government remains committed to humanitarian principles, transparency and accountability,” Somali authorities said, emphasizing the value of partnerships with WFP, the United States and other donors.
The U.S. decision reverses a suspension that had heightened concern across Somalia’s aid community, where the WFP supply chain is a critical lifeline. The Port of Mogadishu is a key node for food imports and emergency distributions into urban districts and drought-stricken regions inland. Any disruption can quickly ripple through communities already living on the brink.
Somalia remains heavily reliant on international assistance as conflict, prolonged drought and economic fragility keep millions food insecure. Humanitarian agencies warn that gains can be fragile without reliable access, predictable funding and tight safeguards to protect commodities from diversion. Donors have increasingly tied support to verifiable accountability measures to ensure aid reaches intended recipients.
With distributions resuming, relief groups are expected to restart deliveries that had been delayed by the standoff, though timelines were not immediately clear. U.S. officials underscored that sustained cooperation with Somali authorities—and adherence to agreed controls—will be essential to maintain donor confidence as shipments flow back into warehouses and onward to communities.
The episode underscores both the vulnerability of aid pipelines to administrative and security shocks and the leverage donors retain over governance standards. For households reliant on monthly rations, the immediate priority is speed: getting stocks off the dock, into storage and onto trucks. For donors and Somalian authorities, the longer-term task is preventing the next disruption through tighter oversight, clearer lines of authority at the port, and consistent communication among government, humanitarian partners and port operators.
For now, the restart offers a narrow window to stabilize food assistance at a time of pressing need. Whether the broader U.S.-Somalia aid portfolio fully normalizes will depend on how effectively the new safeguards are implemented—and kept.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
