MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s Prime Minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, on Wednesday denied recent media reports suggesting that his government received aid money from Sweden in exchange for accepting the deportation of Somali migrants from Sweden.
In an official statement, Prime Minister Barre emphasized the historic and transparent nature of Somalia’s relations with Sweden. He clarified that Swedish aid to Somalia is not contingent upon any agreement to take back migrants and that all assistance is managed under strict oversight in compliance with international law.
“All development assistance to Somalia is channeled through transparent mechanisms, including the World Bank, UN agencies, and the central government’s financial system (Country System),” Barre said.
The statement follows an investigation by Swedish media outlets that revealed Sweden had allegedly provided $10 million in aid through the Somali Prime Minister’s office, bypassing traditional aid agencies. According to the reports, this aid was part of a secret arrangement requiring Somalia to accept deported Somali migrants from Sweden.
The exposure of the alleged deal sparked widespread public outrage in Sweden, with many calling for an official inquiry. Critics expressed concern that the arrangement encouraged corruption in Somalia, a country often cited as one of the most corrupt globally. Questions were raised about why such a substantial sum of money was routed through the Prime Minister’s office instead of established aid channels, given Somalia’s history of governmental corruption.
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