Somalia Denies Aid Theft Claim After US Suspends Funds

Somalia denied a U.S. allegation that Mogadishu authorities demolished a World Food Programme warehouse and seized food aid, after the U.S. State Department suspended all assistance to Somalia’s federal government under Donald Trump’s “zero-tolerance” policy for diversion.World Food Programme said port authorities demolished its Mogadishu port warehouse, which held 75 metric tons of specialized foods for malnourished pregnant and breastfeeding women, girls, and young children, and later said it retrieved the supplies as 4.4 million people face crisis hunger or worse.The dispute unfolds as Washington tightens rules affecting Somalis in the USA and considers recognizing Somaliland, while China signaled support for Somalia’s territorial integrity by sending Wang Yi to Mogadishu following Israel’s recognition of Somaliland and Gideon Saar’s visit to Hargeisa.