US cuts funding for Somali special forces
The United States has cut funding for Somalia’s special Danab Brigade, along with millions of dollars in grants previously provided through the U.S. Agency for International Development, Somali Finance Minister Bihi Iman Agah told parliament on Wednesday.
The Danab Brigade, a specialized unit within the Somali National Army, was created with U.S. training and support to combat terrorism and promote stability in Somalia.
The finance minister noted that the sudden withdrawal of US financial aid had severely strained the Somali government’s budget, saying: “The biggest burden on the government now is the loss of funding that the US had previously allocated to the Danabe forces.” The minister added that the cuts had also affected humanitarian and development programmes, exacerbating the country’s financial challenges.
According to the Treasury Department’s assessment, Somalia has lost nearly $1.5 billion in annual aid, adding to the economic pressure on the government. “We need to work together to accelerate tax reform, manage foreign aid more effectively, and optimize available resources,” he said. “This funding cut is not unique to the United States; it’s a global trend.”
Agah also warned that Somalia was on the verge of an economic crisis and stressed the need to prepare for its impact. He attributed some of the aid cuts to shifting priorities in Washington after the re-election of President Donald Trump, noting that USAID, a major agency involved in American development and humanitarian assistance, had reduced its support.
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