Somali Government Admits Seizing U.S-Funded Food Aid After Trump Drops Hammer

by David Lindfield

The Somali government has admitted responsibility after being accused of destroying a U.S.-funded warehouse and seizing 76 metric tons of food aid intended for the nation’s citizens.

After originally denying the allegations, the third-world nation appeared to change its tune after President Donald Trump’s administration halted all food aid to Somalia.

In early January, the U.S. State Department announced that the United States had halted “all ongoing” aid to Somalia.

The State Department cited reports that the Somali government had destroyed a warehouse used by the World Food Programme.

Somali officials had also seized donor-funded food, paid for by American taxpayers.

At the time, the State Department’s Office of Foreign Assistance wrote:

“Any resumption of assistance will be dependent upon the Somali Federal Government taking accountability for its unacceptable actions and taking appropriate remedial steps.”

Somalia initially denied the allegations, claiming that port expansion work at Mogadishu, where the U.S.-funded warehouse was located, did not affect food aid.

full story at https://slaynews.com/news/somali-government-admits-seizing-us-funded-food-aid-trump-drops-hammer/