Somali government vows to crackdown on aid diversion

The Somali government has announced a crackdown on aid diversion following  following a UN investigation uncovering extensive theft and misuse of aid intended to alleviate famine in the country.

The National Disaster Management Agency and the ministries of humanitarian affairs have jointly reaffirmed that the sale or redistribution of any type of humanitarian aid is a form of aid diversion and is strictly prohibited.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the government declared that anyone caught selling humanitarian aid would face immediate prosecution. The UN reported that landowners, local authorities, security forces, and aid workers were involved in coordinated theft.

Humanitarian assistance remains crucial for Somalia, which faces famine, conflict, and malnutrition. It is unclear what impact the government’s crackdown will have on aid diversion or whether it will convince donors to resume aid to Somalia. However, the announcement is a welcome step in the fight against corruption and misuse of humanitarian aid.