The United States has cut funding for Somalia’s elite Danab special forces unit, along with billions of dollars in grants previously provided through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Somali Finance Minister Bihi Imaan Egeh told Parliament on Wednesday.
The Danab brigade, a specialized unit within the Somali National Army (SNA), was established with U.S. training and support to counter-terrorism and bolster stability in Somalia. However, Egeh warned lawmakers that the abrupt withdrawal of American financial assistance has significantly strained the Somali government’s budget.
“The biggest burden on the government now is the loss of funding that the United States previously allocated to the Danab forces,” Egeh stated.
The minister added that cuts have also affected humanitarian and development programs, exacerbating the country’s financial challenges. According to an assessment by the finance ministry, Somalia has lost approximately $1.5 billion in annual aid, further increasing economic pressures on the government.
“We must work together to accelerate tax reforms, manage foreign aid more effectively, and optimize available resources,” Egeh said. “This funding reduction is not limited to the United States; it is a global trend.”
Egeh also cautioned that Somalia is on the brink of an economic crisis and stressed the urgency of preparing for its impact. He attributed some of the aid reductions to shifting priorities in Washington following the re-election of President Donald Trump, noting that USAID, a key agency involved in U.S. development and humanitarian assistance, has scaled back its support.
The Somali government now faces the challenge of finding alternative funding sources to sustain its military operations and development initiatives amid mounting financial strain.
