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Sweden Shifts Aid Focus from Africa to Ukraine
(MENAFN) Sweden has decided to halt its development assistance to Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Liberia, and Bolivia, redirecting these resources to support Ukraine, announced Benjamin Dousa, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade.
During a press briefing on Friday, Dousa explained that aid totaling around 2 billion kronor ($212 million) will be withdrawn starting August 31, 2026.
The minister emphasized that while “financial pressure is enormous… it is our duty and obligation to support Ukraine.”
However, he noted that the funds will be allocated to purchasing US-manufactured weapons through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List program, rather than for humanitarian purposes.
“There isn’t a secret printing press for banknotes for aid purposes and the money has to come from somewhere,” Dousa added.
He also stated that the Swedish embassies in Bolivia, Liberia, and Zimbabwe, which primarily focus on providing aid, will be closed as part of this shift in priorities.
Last month, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte disclosed that multiple member states, including Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, would collectively contribute a €430 million ($500 million) military aid package for Ukraine.
Responding to Sweden’s decision, Cecilia Chatterjee-Martinsen, international director of Save the Children Sweden, cautioned that the move could have “catastrophic consequences for the poorest people in the world.”
During a press briefing on Friday, Dousa explained that aid totaling around 2 billion kronor ($212 million) will be withdrawn starting August 31, 2026.
The minister emphasized that while “financial pressure is enormous… it is our duty and obligation to support Ukraine.”
However, he noted that the funds will be allocated to purchasing US-manufactured weapons through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List program, rather than for humanitarian purposes.
“There isn’t a secret printing press for banknotes for aid purposes and the money has to come from somewhere,” Dousa added.
He also stated that the Swedish embassies in Bolivia, Liberia, and Zimbabwe, which primarily focus on providing aid, will be closed as part of this shift in priorities.
Last month, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte disclosed that multiple member states, including Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, would collectively contribute a €430 million ($500 million) military aid package for Ukraine.
Responding to Sweden’s decision, Cecilia Chatterjee-Martinsen, international director of Save the Children Sweden, cautioned that the move could have “catastrophic consequences for the poorest people in the world.”
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