The Swedish embassy in Somalia has called an emergency meeting after reports emerged that a secret agreement had been reached between the Swedish and Somali governments, which would see Somalis forcibly deported from Sweden and returned to Somalia in exchange for financial aid to Somalia.
A report by radio station Ekot said the funds to be transferred amounted to 100 million kronor, which would be deposited in a fund under the Somali Prime Minister. The move has sparked strong political criticism in Sweden.
The Social Democrats have strongly condemned the deal, with their foreign policy spokesman, Morgan Johansson, saying: “It is irresponsible to transfer such a large sum of money to funds linked to the highest levels of government in Somalia, regardless of the level of corruption there.”
Johansson demanded that the Minister for Development Cooperation, Benjamin Dousa, appear before the Foreign Affairs Committee to explain the deal.
Similarly, the Centre Party (Centerpartiet) and the Green Party (Miljöpartiet) strongly condemned the report, calling it “corruption and political misdirection.”
Minister Benjamin Dousa, from the Moderate party, defended the agreement, saying that talks with third countries were “normal” to facilitate the return of deportees.
“Many Swedes believe it is fair to deport people who have committed crimes and who have no right to stay here,” he said. “It is acceptable to use financial aid to persuade countries to take in their citizens.”
The Swedish parliament is expected to make a clear decision on the matter, and there are calls for an independent investigation and accountability if there is evidence that aid money has been used for questionable purposes.
