Recent reports have raised concerns about the misuse of US foreign aid, suggesting that militant groups in Africa, including Alshabab in Somalia, have benefited from funds channeled through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). During a hearing on February 26 before the US House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee, Gregg Roman, the executive director of the Middle East Forum, revealed that several militant organizations, including Alshabab, have indirectly received assistance from US foreign aid programs.
Roman remarked, “We gave assisted Alshabab in Somalia, Hamzi Network in Sudan. Dozens of terrorist organisations have received indirect assistance from US foreign aid.”
This revelation points to an ongoing issue regarding the transparency and oversight of US financial aid distributed to various countries in Africa, including Somalia, where the militant group Alshabab has been operating for years.
The US has a long-standing relationship with Somalia, dating back to the era of President Siad Barre, who ruled the country from 1969 to 1991. In the early 1990s, after Barre’s regime was ousted by a Somali coalition, the US began bombing Somalia. Since the early 2000s, every administration, both Democratic and Republican, has continued airstrikes, often under the guise of counterterrorism and anti-piracy efforts. The US has strategically used Somalia’s vast coastline and its location at the mouth of the Gulf of Aden to protect vital shipping lanes and counter terrorism in the region.
Under the Biden administration, the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) has worked closely with Somalia’s government, carrying out airstrikes on Alshabab positions, but these operations have resulted in civilian casualties. In 2023 alone, 120 Somali civilians were killed during 18 airstrikes and one ground operation.
Representative Scott Perry, a Republican from Pennsylvania, has been vocal about the misuse of USAID funds. During a hearing on February 13, Perry alleged that these funds were being diverted to support militant groups. He questioned the agency’s oversight and accountability, stating, “Who gets some of this money? Your money—$697 million a year—plus cash fund shipments are going into the hands of Madrassas, Daesh, Boko Haram, Daesh-K, and militant training camps. That’s what it’s financing.”
“Who gets some of this money? Your money—$697 million a year—plus cash fund shipments are going into the hands of Madrassas, Daesh, Boko Haram, Daesh-K, and militant training camps. That’s what it’s financing.”
Perry’s remarks align with accusations made by other African nations, including Mali, where the country’s foreign ministry has also claimed that USAID has indirectly supported militant groups operating within the region. This growing concern over the misuse of aid is leading to calls for better oversight mechanisms to ensure that US taxpayer money is not being funneled into the hands of militants.
The US government has yet to address these allegations directly, but the debate over the effectiveness of aid programs in Africa, and the potential for misuse, is expected to continue as the situation in Somalia and other countries in the Horn of Africa remains volatile. The growing influence of militant groups in Africa underscores the need for more rigorous accountability in US foreign assistance programs to avoid unintended consequences and further destabilization of the region.