Sweden's Aid Agreement with Somalia Stirs Corruption Concerns

A December 2023 aid agreement between Sweden and Somalia, which ties Swedish financial support to the acceptance of forced repatriations from Sweden, has raised significant concerns about corruption. Under this arrangement, Somalia agreed to accept forcibly repatriated citizens in exchange for redirected Swedish aid, which has become a focal point of dispute and scrutiny.

The deal stipulates a total aid budget of 100 million kronor, which was intended for various projects. However, an investigation revealed that only 40 million kronor was allocated to a World Bank fund, while 60 million kronor was designated for a UNDP project closely associated with the office of Somalia's Prime Minister. This funding structure has been flagged by experts, including Wilo Abdulle Osman, who emphasized the obvious risks for fund misuse, stating, "The risk of corruption is evident". Critics from within Sweden’s International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) have labeled the project as "high-risk" due to vague objectives and unclear metrics for success.

Significantly, the arrangement has intensified forced deportations, with reports indicating that 28 individuals were deported to Somalia last year under these new terms. Sources suggest that Somalia insisted on having control over how the Swedish aid would be spent, effectively demanding that it would benefit the Prime Minister's circle, which has contributed to an atmosphere of secrecy surrounding the agreement.

The first tranche of aid was released in 2024, but internal conflicts arose when Sida refused to disburse funds directly tied to the Prime Minister’s office, highlighting a rift between the Swedish government’s objectives and the operational autonomy of Sida. Although the Swedish government has linked aid to migration policy aimed at enhancing repatriation rates, this decision is met with growing skepticism both domestically and internationally regarding the accountability and purpose of the aid provided.

With Somalia rated near the bottom of the global corruption index, the agreement has become politically charged as it escalates discussions about the consequences of linking humanitarian aid to migration policies. Moving forward, scrutiny is likely to intensify as analysts call for transparency in both Sweden’s foreign aid decisions and Somalia's management of these funds. The complex dynamics between aid, corruption risk, and forced repatriations underscore the challenging intersection of development assistance and migration control.