MOGADISHU (SD)– Somali security forces have arrested 42-year-old Abdikarim Abdullahi Iidle in Mogadishu, following allegations by the United States Department of Justice that he played a central role in the massive Feeding Our Future fraud scheme in the United States.
According to U.S. prosecutors, Abdikarim was taken into custody on June 25, 2026, after allegedly evading authorities by leaving the United States. He is accused of participating in one of the largest fraud cases involving the U.S. Child Nutrition Program.
The indictment alleges that Abdikarim accepted bribes and kickbacks to approve fraudulent meal distribution sites that falsely claimed to provide food to thousands of children. Prosecutors also allege that he established multiple companies and organizations under different names to facilitate the scheme and conceal the origin of the funds.
The U.S. Department of Justice further alleges that more than $5 million in fraud proceeds was deposited into bank accounts linked to companies associated with Abdikarim.
U.S. officials have described him as a significant figure in one of the largest public corruption and fraud cases in Minnesota’s history, stating that his arrest demonstrates the government’s commitment to pursuing financial crime suspects regardless of where they flee.
The arrest marks a significant development in the long-running Feeding Our Future investigation, which has involved dozens of defendants and hundreds of millions of dollars in alleged fraud. It also highlights growing cooperation between Somali and U.S. authorities in pursuing individuals accused of transnational financial crimes.
