The federal government of Somalia has refuted claims of the destruction of the US-funded World Food Programme warehouse and the illegal seizing of 76 metric tons of donor-funded food aid.

A statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Federal Republic of Somalia stated that the commodities referenced in the recent reports remain in the custody and control of the World Food Programme, assisted by the United States.

The ministry further clarified that the WFP warehouse in question is located within the Mogadishu port area, where ongoing expansion and repurposing works are underway as part of the broader port development activities.

“The operations have affected the custody, management or distribution of the humanitarian assistance,” said the statement However, the ministry noted the concerns expressed by the international partners, and a multi-technical inter-agency committee has been convened immediately to further review the intersection of port expansion activities and humanitarian logistics to ensure that aid operations remain seamless.

The Somali federal government noted that it remains fully committed to humanitarian principles, transparency, and accountability and values its partnership with the United States and all internal donors.

The ministry has issued this statement after the undersecretary department for foreign affairs and religious freedom of the US alleged in a statement that it was concerned by the destruction of the WFP warehouse in Mogadishu.