By: Akoi M. Baysah, Jr.
The Embassy of Sweden accredited to Liberia and Sierra Leone has announced that the Swedish Government will gradually phase out its bilateral development cooperation with Liberia, with plans to close the Embassy in Monrovia during the course of 2026.
According to the Embassy, the decision is a result of reduced funding in Sweden’s overall development cooperation budget. Similar adjustments are being made in other African countries, including Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
The phase-out process will be conducted “in a responsible and orderly way,” with all bilateral operations expected to conclude by the end of August 2026.
The Embassy clarified that Sweden’s support to Liberia through global contributions to multilateral organizations and the European Union will remain unaffected.
Importantly, the Swedish Government emphasized that the decision is not connected to any policy issues or recent developments in Liberia.
Despite the changes, Sweden reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining strong ties with Liberia.
The Embassy noted that efforts will be made to deepen cooperation in areas beyond development aid, particularly in trade and business relations.
“Sweden remains a steadfast partner to Liberia and attaches great importance to our shared priorities and values,” the statement reads, highlighting historic ties as a foundation for continued strong relations.
The original public statement was published on the Embassy’s official page
