The U.S. suspends aid to Somalia over alleged food diversion
The United States has suspended all assistance to Somalia’s federal government, accusing officials of destroying a US-funded World Food Programme warehouse and seizing 76 metric tonnes of donor-funded food aid intended for vulnerable civilians.
The allegation, made in a social media post by the Trump administration, risks deepening humanitarian pressures in Somalia while exposing persistent tensions between international donors and local authorities over aid oversight and accountability.
Trump warns of further US airstrikes in Nigeria
Donald Trump warned that the United States could carry out additional airstrikes in Nigeria if attacks against Christians continue, following Christmas Day strikes on Islamist militants in Sokoto state.
Speaking to the New York Times, Trump said he hoped the strikes would be a “one-time” action but left open the prospect of repeated interventions. The comments raise concerns about the conditional nature of Nigerian sovereignty and the precedent of foreign military action framed through religious protection narratives.
Senegal rules out debt restructuring as IMF pauses funding
Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said his government would not seek to restructure its debt despite mounting repayment difficulties. The International Monetary Fund says Senegal’s debt reached 132% of GDP by the end of 2024 and has paused a $1.8bn lending programme.
The decision leaves Dakar facing tight fiscal constraints as it attempts to balance political commitments with external financing pressures.
Read also: Trump withdraws U.S. from 66 international organisations
Somalis protest Israel’s recognition of Somaliland
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Mogadishu to denounce Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as an independent state, chanting patriotic songs and waving Somali flags.
Demonstrators said the move threatens Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Somaliland declared independence in 1991 but had never previously been recognised by any country, making Israel’s decision a significant diplomatic rupture with implications for the Horn of Africa
