Dr. Milton Freman

Israel became the first country to re-recognise #Somaliland after 35 years of being ignored by everyone. Congratulations to all Somalilanders. Soon more will follow.

Full Support for Suspension of U.S. Foreign Aid to Somalia and Call for Targeted Sanctions Against Corrupt Officials and Financial Institutions Dear President Trump @realDonaldTrump, Secretary Rubio @SecRubio, and Mr. Musk @elonmusk, I am writing to express my full support for the decision to suspend U.S. foreign aid to the Federal Republic of Somalia. The corruption, theft, and mismanagement of these funds have reached alarming levels, with an estimated 95% of U.S.-funded aid never reaching its intended beneficiaries. Instead, these funds have been systematically embezzled by senior Somali government officials, including the President and his Villa Somalia inner circle, the Prime Minister and inner circle, All Ministers, Deputy Ministers, State Ministers, Director Generals, and agency heads such as the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SODMA) and others. Since December 2022, I personally reported these widespread misappropriations and corruptions to the USAID, the U.S. State Department, the USAID Inspector General, and members of both the U.S. Senate and Congress. My findings revealed that over $1.3 billion in U.S. taxpayer funds allocated for Somalia were misused by corrupt Somali officials and the leaders and staffs of international organizations operating in Nairobi and Mogadishu. Instead of addressing these concerns, I faced harassment from the U.S. Ambassador to Somalia, who was displeased with my oversight investigation as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The scale of corruption is astonishing, and I present the following examples as proof of how U.S. taxpayer money has been looted: Ø A junior officer coordinating USAID-funded projects with a monthly salary of less than $1,200 has somehow built three luxury houses in Nairobi and Turkey under the current leadership in Villa Somalia. This raises serious questions about where these funds originated. Ø The manager of a World Bank project worth $200 million, earning a salary of only $3,000 per month, has managed to build a high-end hotel in Kenya and an oxygen factory in Kenya, clear evidence of embezzlement. When I reported this to World Bank Watch, no action was taken. Ø How is it that the Director General of SoDMA has accumulated such significant wealth in just three years, yet no one is questioning its source? Ø The President of Somalia, whose government receives 70% of its budget from international donors, including the U.S., spent $450,000 on a four-day trip to the UN Summit in New York. Ø The Prime Minister of Somalia, for a mere 30-minute visit to a town just 30 kilometers outside of Mogadishu, spent $150,000. Ø These funds, which are from U.S. taxpayers, have ended up directly in the pockets of top Somali government officials, while the Somali people continue to suffer without basic services. Additionally, my investigation uncovered that the Governor of the Central Bank of Somalia and several Somali banks played a critical role in money laundering schemes that enabled corrupt officials to embezzle U.S. taxpayer-funded aid. These financial institutions facilitated the illicit movement of stolen aid money, laundering funds through Kenya, Djibouti, the UAE, and Turkey, making it nearly impossible for the money to reach the Somali people who desperately need it. While I fully support the suspension of U.S. aid, I strongly urge additional targeted actions to hold the perpetrators accountable and prevent further fraud. Specifically, I recommend that the Secretaries of the U.S. Treasury Department @USTreasury and the State Department @StateDept: Ø Freeze the assets of Somali officials, the Governor of the Central Bank, and executives of private Somali banks who facilitated money laundering schemes. This should include assets in Somalia, Kenya, Djibouti, the UAE, Turkey, and any other jurisdictions where stolen U.S. aid funds have been funneled. Ø Impose visa restrictions on all individuals involved in the misappropriation and laundering of U.S. foreign aid, including Somali government officials, bank executives, and international organization leaders complicit in these schemes. Ø Blacklist Somali banks engaged in laundering stolen aid money, cutting them off from the international financial system. Ø Conduct a full forensic audit of all USAID and World Bank-funded projects in Somalia, ensuring that no further funds are misused. Suspending aid alone will not be enough; strong punitive measures must follow to send a clear and direct message that the United States will not tolerate corruption and fraud at the expense of U.S. taxpayers and the Somali people. These actions will also set a global precedent that President Trump’s administration is serious about holding corrupt foreign officials and financial institutions accountable, reinforcing his America First policies. I am more than willing to provide my investigative reports and recommendations to ensure that future U.S. assistance to Somalia is transparent, properly monitored, and reaches the intended beneficiaries. I look forward to working with your administration to implement these critical measures and restore accountability and integrity to U.S. foreign aid programs. Sincerely, 📷 Dr. Abdillahi Hashi Abib - BA, MA, MASc, Ph.D Member of Foreign Affairs Committee Leader of the Accountability and Transparency Caucus of the House of People E: abdillahi.abib@parliament.gov.so W: + 1-571-436-7586 M: + 252-6108-22469 LIST OF USAID PROJECTS IN FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF SOMALIA Here is an overview of key development and humanitarian projects funded by the U.S. government for Somalia through international organizations and agencies: Resilience and Food Security Programs Ø Funding Amount: Approximately $29 million (December 2023) Ø Implementing Partners: World Vision, Save the Children, Food for the Hungry, and other local NGOs. Ø Description: These projects focus on building resilience and improving food security for Somalia’s most vulnerable populations, especially in drought-affected areas. The funding aims to reach approximately 80,000 households across southern Somalia. Humanitarian Assistance (2020–2024) Ø Funding Amount: Over $2.3 billion since 2020. Ø Implementing Partners: United Nations World Food Program (WFP), UNHCR, UNICEF, Oxfam, and other international and local NGOs. Ø Description: These funds support emergency response efforts in Somalia, focusing on life-saving humanitarian aid, including food assistance, health services, nutrition support, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), shelter, and protection for displaced populations. COVID-19 Response and Economic Recovery Programs Ø Funding Amount: $50 million (2021) Ø Implementing Partners: The World Bank, UNDP, and other global health organizations. Ø Description: These programs supported the COVID-19 response in Somalia, including health interventions, economic recovery efforts, and protection of vulnerable populations. Somalia Education and Youth Empowerment Program Ø Funding Amount: $20 million (ongoing) Ø Implementing Partners: UNDP, UNICEF, Education Cannot Wait (ECW), and other education-focused NGOs. Ø Description: Aimed at improving access to education, especially for marginalized youth, girls, and children with disabilities. It supports educational infrastructure, teacher training, and school-based nutrition programs. Governance and Democracy Programs Ø Funding Amount: $50 million (2023) Ø Implementing Partners: International Republican Institute (IRI), National Democratic Institute (NDI), UNDP. Ø Description: Aimed at strengthening Somalia’s democratic institutions, building the capacity of political parties, supporting fair elections, and promoting good governance. Health Programs Ø Funding Amount: $150 million (2023) Ø Implementing Partners: World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and various international NGOs. Ø Description: These programs focus on improving health systems, expanding access to essential health services, combating malnutrition, improving maternal and child health, and strengthening disease surveillance. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Programs Ø Funding Amount: $25 million (2024) Ø Implementing Partners: UNICEF, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and other local WASH-focused NGOs. Ø Description: These programs support the provision of clean water and sanitation services to vulnerable communities, reduce the spread of waterborne diseases, and improve overall community hygiene. Livelihoods and Economic Growth Programs Ø Funding Amount: $60 million (2023) Ø Implementing Partners: World Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Mercy Corps. Ø Description: Focused on agricultural productivity, rural livelihoods, and promoting economic growth by supporting small businesses, enhancing market access, and improving agricultural practices. The Inclusive Resilience in Somalia (IRiS) Activity Ø Funding Amount: $65 million (June 2022 – June 2027) Ø Implementing Partner: DT Global Ø Description: Aimed at strengthening and diversifying livelihoods, accelerating economic development for marginalized groups, and promoting inclusive economic market systems in Somalia. Conflict Mitigation and Peacebuilding Programs Ø Funding Amount: $30 million (2023) Ø Implementing Partners: USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI), UNDP, local peacebuilding organizations. Ø Description: These projects focus on promoting conflict mitigation, reconciliation, and peacebuilding efforts, with particular attention to youth involvement and local community peace initiatives. Environmental and Climate Change Programs Ø Funding Amount: $35 million (2023) Ø Implementing Partners: The World Bank, UN Environment Program (UNEP), local environmental NGOs. Ø Description: Programs focused on climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, disaster risk reduction, and environmental protection. @realDonaldTrump @SecRubio @StateDept @USTreasury @elonmusk @SpeakerJohnson @Jim_Jordan @freedomcaucus @susiewiles2024 @StephenM @GOPMajorityWhip @RepFinstad @RepFischbach @RepPeteStauber @RepMTG @FoxNews @BreitbartNews @NEWSMAX @CrisisGroup @HassanSMohamud @TheVillaSomalia @HamzaAbdiBarre @AadanMadobe @SomaliainQatar @MOFAKuwait @UAEinSomalia @ChineseSomalia @KSAmofaEN @US2SOMALIA @EU_in_Somalia @ItalyinSomalia @UNSomalia @TC_MogadisuBE @UNDPSomalia @MikeNith1 @UKinSomalia @NorwayInSomalia @SwedeninSomalia @DKinSomalia @NLinSomalia @CanHCKenya @IrlAmbKenya @mpf1somalia @IMFAfrica @PGAction

“We hope that the United States may be the first country to recognize Somaliland.” — H.E. Abdirahman Abdillahi at #WorldGovSummit, on the importance of international recognition for Somaliland’s future. #WGS25