Controversy Over Swedish Aid to Somalia Intensifies Amid 'Ghost Jobs' Allegations

The Swedish government's allocation of five million kronor to fund three positions within Somalia's prime minister's office has sparked allegations of corruption and ‘ghost jobs’—positions that exist only on paper without actual workers. This funding, routed through the International Organization for Migration (IOM), aims to facilitate deportations of convicted criminals back to Somalia.

Migration Minister Johan Forssell defends the aid, asserting there is no evidence of wrongdoing and emphasizing the reputable role of the IOM. He highlighted that deportations increased fivefold, from six in 2023 to 29 in 2024, crediting the funded positions with fostering better cooperation. However, neither Swedish authorities responsible for deportations nor Forssell's own department know the identities of the beneficiaries, raising suspicion that the jobs may be held by already high-paid officials in a country with strong corruption concerns.

Opposition parties, including the Social Democrats and Left Party, have vehemently criticized the arrangement. Social Democrat Morgan Johansson described the misuse of funds as “obvious” and expressed frustration at the ruling parties’ rejection of calls to summon UN bodies like UNDP and the World Bank for investigative clarity. The opposition is seeking to have the matter reexamined by the foreign affairs committee to promote transparency.

This controversy highlights contradictions in Sweden's aid policy: despite pulling support from organizations like UNRWA over corruption fears during crises such as Gaza's hunger emergency, Sweden appears to tolerate less stringent controls in its aid to Somalia. Forssell maintains optimism about the collaboration's positive outcomes but has pledged action if concrete evidence of corruption emerges.