Mogadishu – The Somali government has expelled Anna Saleem Högberg, the Consul at the Swedish Embassy and Head of Development Cooperation, declaring her persona non grata for alleged interference in Somalia’s internal affairs, Swedish media reported.
Högberg, who has been leading Swedish aid efforts in Somalia since 2022, was reportedly ordered to leave the country due to tensions between her and the Somali government. According to Global Bar Magazine, the expulsion stems from a conflict between the Swedish official and Somali authorities, including Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre’s office.
Reports indicate that the Somali government had already decided in March to expel the Swedish aid agency but only recently enforced the decision against Högberg. The move signals a deepening rift in diplomatic relations between Somalia and Sweden.
While the Somali government has remained silent on the matter, sources suggest that the expulsion follows concerns over Sweden’s engagement in Somalia’s political and development affairs. Attempts to obtain official comments from Sweden’s State Department and Biståndsmyndigheten (Swedish aid agency) have so far been met with no response.
The expulsion of a senior Swedish diplomat underscores Somalia’s increasing efforts to assert control over foreign involvement in its governance and aid sector. It remains unclear how this decision will impact future Swedish-Somali relations and development cooperation.
By: Abdiaziz Loyal
