Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud welcomed a Swedish delegation to Mogadishu for discussions on trade, institutional support, and development assistance, coinciding with intensifying discussions in Sweden concerning the deportation of Somali citizens.
On Tuesday, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud hosted a Swedish delegation in the capital, focusing on trade and institutional backing, while Sweden grapples with controversy surrounding the purported forced repatriation of Somali asylum seekers.
The private session convened at the Villa Somalia Presidential Palace in Mogadishu, featuring President Hassan and a team headed by Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Benjamin Dousa.
According to a presidential statement following the meeting, the dialogue encompassed Somalia-Sweden relations, including methods to enhance collaboration in trade and bolster the effectiveness of government institutions both at the federal level and across the wider governmental framework.
The presidential statement noted that the head of state and the Swedish minister examined bilateral ties between the two nations and approaches to further solidify these connections, especially concerning economic matters, commerce, and improving governmental institutional capabilities.
Throughout the discussions, Swedish representatives expressed their country’s desire to increase involvement in initiatives promoting peace and stability in Somalia, including initiatives designed to reconstruct institutions compromised by prolonged conflict and political turmoil.
Swedish officials also emphasized that maintaining backing for governmental frameworks and public services continues to be vital to Stockholm’s involvement with Mogadishu, with collaborative efforts designed to benefit the Somali populace through initiatives undertaken with national bodies and global collaborators.
Dousa and accompanying delegation members confirmed Sweden’s commitment to supporting the Somali government and its citizens via developmental cooperation, humanitarian aid, and institutional backing, as reported by individuals informed about the proceedings.
The visit occurred amid escalating discussions in Sweden regarding the repatriation of Somali individuals whose asylum requests had been denied by Swedish authorities, a matter capturing the attention of political factions, media organizations, and civil society entities within Sweden.
Earlier that week, Sweden’s migration minister, Johan Forssell, declared that the administration would persist with deportations under existing return agreements with Somalia, notwithstanding objections from opposition figures and public dialogue in Stockholm concerning this approach.
Statistics provided by Swedish authorities indicate that Somalia had accepted 25 deportees by November, comprising 14 individuals repatriated following criminal convictions, with police data revealing an upward trend in the number of compelled returns of Somali citizens in recent years.
Based on the data, six instances of compelled repatriation were documented in 2021, while the number increased to 29 cases by 2023, demonstrating heightened enforcement activities by Swedish migration and police departments.
The deportation approach has sparked contention in Sweden, with opposition groups and news reports inquiring if development aid was utilized to facilitate the return procedure, a claim refuted by the Swedish government.
