Sweden: deportations in exchange for bribes?
Media investigations have revealed that the Swedish government diverted 5 million kronor (approx. 450,000 euros) from development aid funds to the Somali government to ensure that it would allow it to send Somali migrants back to the country. The money was used to finance three well-paid civil service positions.
Covertly supporting terrorism
Aftonbladet is appalled:
“The government has stated that it is not ashamed of pressuring countries to increase the repatriation of deported citizens. ... The criticism is not directed at bilateral pressure per se but at the new, clumsy methods being deployed. ... Since when has it become normal for a Swedish government to secretly funnel millions of kronor to a corrupt Somalian regime that glorifies terrorism - and pay its salaries?”
Encouraging corruption
So much for the development goal of fighting corruption, Dagens Nyheter notes:
“Ministers talk about creating transparency and fighting corruption in international cooperation, but turn a blind eye when it suits them. Targeted payments to Somalia are strengthening an authoritarian regime, and with Swedish money at that. And this is not just any country - Somalia is the second most corrupt country in the world. Sweden is acting as if it wanted to help them reach first place. But of course, you don't ask yourself 'how on earth' the money ended up in corrupt hands when you yourself were involved in the decision.”