Somali Government Denies Reports of ‘Secret Deal’ with Sweden

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The Federal Government of Somalia has strongly denied media reports alleging that it had entered into a “secret agreement” with Sweden linking development aid to the return of Somali nationals.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Office of the Prime Minister described the claims as “false, misleading, and baseless,” saying no such conditional or covert deal exists between the two countries.

“These allegations are fabricated and have no foundation whatsoever,” the statement read. “There is no secret or conditional agreement between Somalia and any country concerning the return of Somali citizens or the distribution of development aid.”

The government reaffirmed that relations between Somalia and Sweden remain long-standing and grounded in mutual respect and adherence to international law. It emphasized that all cooperation and negotiations with foreign partners are conducted transparently through formal diplomatic channels, under the oversight of the Council of Ministers and relevant state institutions.

The denial follows reports by Sweden’s public radio Ekot and other media outlets claiming that in late 2023, Sweden redirected about 100 million Swedish kronor (roughly USD 9–10 million) in development funds to Somali projects linked to the Prime Minister’s Office in exchange for Mogadishu agreeing to take back deported Somali nationals. The reports alleged that the arrangement blurred the line between aid and migration policy and caused diplomatic friction between the two governments, leading to the expulsion of Sweden’s aid director from Somalia earlier this year.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, all aid and development projects provided to Somalia are managed through open and accountable systems, including the World Bank, the United Nations, and Somalia’s national public financial management framework.