By HAN News Desk
STOCKHOLM / MOGADISHU — Sweden’s government has come under intense political and media scrutiny following allegations that it secretly paid money to the Somali government in exchange for increased deportations of Somali nationals.
The controversy emerged after the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter (DN) revealed that the Swedish government transferred 5 million kronor — equivalent to about half a million US dollars — to Somali officials. The payment, according to the report, was allegedly made to three senior officials within the Office of the Prime Minister of Somalia to facilitate the repatriation of Somali citizens from Sweden.
The revelation has sparked outrage within Sweden’s parliament, prompting the opposition Social Democrats to refer Migration Minister Johan Forssell to the Constitutional Committee for investigation.
Morgan Johansson, the Social Democrats’ spokesperson on foreign affairs, condemned the payment, calling it a “clear act of corruption” and a “cash bribe to an Islamic government.”
“If this report is accurate, Sweden has essentially paid a foreign government to accept deported individuals — something that completely undermines our principles of transparency, accountability, and international law,” Johansson said.
He added that the practice, if proven, could damage Sweden’s reputation as a defender of human rights and good governance.
Migration Minister Johan Forssell, however, has strongly defended the transaction, describing it not as a bribe but as part of a “practical cooperation agreement” with Somalia and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) — a UN agency that supports voluntary returns and reintegration programs.
“This is not aid money, nor is it a payment to any Somali politician,” Forssell said in a press briefing. “It is part of a legitimate framework aimed at ensuring that convicted criminals and rejected asylum seekers are safely returned to their home countries.”
The minister emphasized that the agreement aligns with Sweden’s national security interests, noting that the number of deportations has increased by 60% since his government took office. However, he declined to specify how many Somali nationals had been deported as part of the arrangement.
Critics argue that even if the funds were channeled through official programs, the secrecy surrounding the deal raises questions about accountability and ethical governance.
Swedish media reports suggest that no formal memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been made public, and it remains unclear whether the Somali Parliament or Cabinet approved the agreement.
Human rights advocates have also voiced concerns that deported individuals could face insecurity and persecution upon returning to Somalia, where violence and political instability persist in some regions.
The controversy threatens to strain Sweden–Somalia relations, especially as the Somali government faces increasing scrutiny over its financial transparency and governance practices.
A senior Somali political analyst told HAN News that “if proven true, the payment could fuel domestic criticism that Somalia’s sovereignty is being compromised in exchange for short-term financial gain.”
The Swedish Constitutional Committee is expected to begin reviewing the case in the coming weeks. Depending on the findings, the investigation could lead to parliamentary hearings and potential reforms in Sweden’s migration cooperation policies.
