Comprehensive Report: The Secret Agreement Between Somalia and Sweden

Johan Forssell, Immigration Minister of Sweden

Stockholm, Sweden. The Swedish news agency Ekot recently ignited political and public debate after revealing details of an alleged secret agreement between the governments of Somalia and Sweden. According to Ekot, the deal was worth 100 million Swedish kronor — approximately 12 million U.S. dollars.

Ekot reported that the agreement was signed in December 2023, involving several key parties: the Office of the Prime Minister of Somalia, Sweden’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Swedish Migration Agency.

The report stated that while the agreement was publicly framed as an economic support initiative for Somalia, its underlying purpose appeared linked to Sweden’s policy on forced repatriation of Somali refugees. The deal was signed by the current Sweden Immigration Minister Johan Forssell, the former International Development Cooperation

Ekot began investigating the matter in December 2023, noting that obtaining official documentation was extremely difficult. Many records were reportedly deleted or restricted, limiting access to only partial information. However, the outlet claims to have secured evidence confirming that the deal was authentic, though conducted discreetly.

Sources also indicated that Sweden’s Minister for Migration, known for advocating stricter immigration policies, played a significant role in preparing the agreement. The project was reportedly part of a broader plan to reduce the number of asylum seekers in Sweden and repatriate those without legal residency.

When contacted by Ekot, Benjamin Doussa, Sweden’s Minister for International Development Cooperation, acknowledged the existence of the agreement. He defended it as an initiative intended to support refugee repatriation efforts, explaining that funding came from Sweden’s Foreign Department, SIDA, and Swedish embassies.

In contrast, SIDA’s leadership refrained from direct criticism, stating only that all grants follow official government approval procedures.

An anonymous SIDA employee told Ekot, “The government is responsible for approving grants. SIDA does not disburse funds without official oversight.”

The Federal Government of Somalia has officially denied the existence of any such secret deal, insisting that it has not entered into any covert financial or migration-related agreement with Sweden.

However, UNDP, which reportedly handled the project’s funds, confirmed the deal’s existence. In a written statement, UNDP said:

“This project followed the standard procedures of UN programmes, and the funds were used for their intended purposes.”

Documents obtained by Ekot show that the first phase of the project involved a disbursement of USD 4 million, followed by a second phase of USD 6 million, bringing the total so far to USD 10 million.

The alleged secret agreement between Sweden and Somalia has sparked political and legal controversy in both countries. In Sweden, questions are mounting about government transparency and the management of development funds. In Somalia, the government’s outright denial of the deal’s existence complicates verification and fuels further uncertainty, while creating fear among Somali diaspora.