Somalia, US relations hit low point as Washington pauses aid to government

An online shop team records food orders transmitted with the World Food Program (WFP) card in Wadajir district of Mogadishu, Somalia October 26, 2020. Picture taken October 26, 2020. REUTERS/Feisal Omar

WASHINGTON/NAIROBI, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Relations between ‌Somalia and the U.S. hit a low point after Washington said it would pause further assistance that benefits the government in Mogadishu amid a dispute ‌over the demolition of a World Food Programme warehouse.

The U.S. State Department's under secretary of foreign assistance said in an X post on Wednesday ‌that Somali government officials had destroyed a U.S.-funded WFP warehouse and illegally seized donor-funded food aid for vulnerable Somalis.