Publicly, the talks were about trade and cooperation. In the background, a sensitive issue loomed: deportations from Sweden to Somalia.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Tuesday met with a senior Swedish delegation in Mogadishu for talks aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, as Sweden faces growing scrutiny over the deportation of Somali nationals whose asylum claims have been rejected.
The delegation, led by Sweden’s minister for international development cooperation and foreign trade, Benjamin Dousa, held closed-door discussions with the president at the presidential palace. According to a statement from the Somali presidency, the talks focused on expanding cooperation in the economy, trade, and efforts to strengthen state institutions.
“The president of the republic and the minister discussed the bilateral relationship between Somalia and Sweden and ways to further strengthen it, particularly in the areas of the economy, trade and enhancing the capacity of state institutions,” the statement said.
Swedish officials told President Mohamud that Stockholm is prepared to deepen its role in supporting peace and stability in Somalia, including assistance aimed at rebuilding government institutions after decades of conflict.
The visit comes at a politically sensitive moment in Sweden, where deportations of Somali nationals have drawn increased attention. Earlier this week, Sweden’s migration minister, Johan Forssell, said the government would continue enforcing deportations under existing return arrangements with Somalia, despite criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups.
Swedish police data cited by officials show that Somalia had accepted 25 deportees by November, including 14 individuals removed following criminal convictions. The number of forced returns has risen steadily, from six cases in 2021 to 29 in 2023, reflecting tighter migration enforcement policies in Sweden.
The deportations have sparked controversy amid media investigations suggesting development assistance may have been used to facilitate returns. Swedish authorities have denied any such link, saying assistance related to migration is channeled through international organizations, including the International Organization for Migration, and does not involve conditional arrangements.
Somali officials have also pushed back strongly against the allegations. In a statement on Oct. 9, the Office of the Prime Minister described claims of secret or conditional agreements as “false, misleading, and unfounded,” emphasizing that cooperation with Sweden is conducted transparently through formal diplomatic channels and multilateral institutions such as the World Bank and United Nations agencies.
Despite the tensions surrounding migration, Sweden remains a long-standing development and security partner for Somalia. In October, Sweden’s defense minister visited Mogadishu to discuss expanding cooperation on counterterrorism, training, and capacity-building for Somali security forces, underscoring a relationship that extends well beyond the politically charged issue of deportations.
