Controversial Secret Agreement with Somalia Prompts Inquiry into Swedish Aid

Recent reports have surfaced suggesting that Sweden entered into a controversial agreement with the Somali government in December 2023, wherein 100 million Swedish kronor was redirected towards projects closely associated with the Somali Prime Minister. Allegedly, this arrangement demanded that the Somali administration gain greater control over these funds compared to other forms of aid.

In return, Sweden is believed to have secured a commitment from Somalia to accept forcibly deported citizens from Sweden. Both nations reportedly sought to keep this agreement confidential.

Benjamin Dousa, the Minister for International Development Cooperation, who took office after the agreement was made, stated that the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the embassies are responsible for the implementation of aid initiatives.

Janine Alm Ericson, the spokesperson for the Green Party on aid policy, announced that her party would summon Minister Dousa to the Foreign Affairs Committee to explain the situation. She expressed serious concerns, labeling the management of aid funds by the government as a significant failure.

Alm Ericson criticized the government for seemingly rewarding foreign regimes for accepting their nationals, suggesting this could represent a clear case of corruption. She emphasized that the government has reduced aid with promises of increased transparency, yet this incident contradicts that narrative.

Morgan Johansson, the spokesperson for the Social Democratic Party on foreign policy, described the revelations as astonishing. He condemned the allocation of 100 million kronor to a fund associated with the Somali Prime Minister, citing Somalia's reputation as one of the world's most corrupt nations. He remarked that such treatment of aid funds is unacceptable.

During his tenure as minister, Johansson maintained that the previous Social Democratic government had established a policy where aid could be conditioned on countries accepting their citizens who could not remain in Sweden. He contrasted that approach with the current administration's strategy, which seems to incentivize compliance rather than impose consequences.

Johansson expressed the need for Dousa to clarify several points, including how this situation arose, the specifics of the agreement, and measures in place to prevent misappropriation of funds. He also questioned whether similar arrangements exist.

Other political parties, including the Center Party and the Left Party, have echoed calls for Dousa to appear before the Foreign Affairs Committee. Anna Lasses from the Center Party stressed the seriousness of the secret agreement, indicating that if the reports are accurate, aid funds have been improperly utilized.

Lotta Johnsson Fornarve from the Left Party asserted that using aid as a form of incentive is fundamentally incompatible with the principles of humanitarian assistance. She condemned the alleged misuse of aid funds as alarming.

Attempts to reach Minister Dousa for an interview were unsuccessful; however, he commented that engaging in dialogue with third countries is essential for facilitating the return of deported individuals. He emphasized his commitment to ensuring that aid funds are not lost to corruption and affirmed that it is reasonable to set expectations for recipient countries, highlighting Sweden's positive relationship with Somalia.