Kamal Gutale, chief of staff to Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, has been accused of benefiting from Swedish funds while helping negotiate the same aid package, according to an investigation by Sweden’s public broadcaster Sveriges Radio.
The probe, aired on 18 December 2025 by the flagship news programme Ekot, revealed that Sweden redirected around 100 million Swedish kronor (about USD 9.5 million) from its development budget to Somalia under a confidential 2023 agreement. In return, Mogadishu committed to accepting deported Somali nationals, including some convicted of crimes.
The Somali government has strongly denied any wrongdoing, stating that all funds were channelled through international organisations and no officials received direct payments.
Legal experts have raised questions about governance and accountability, particularly over Gutale’s alleged dual role.
Secret deal exposed
The arrangement began in late 2023 when Sweden sought greater cooperation on deportations amid domestic political pressure to tighten migration rules.
Ekot reported that Sweden moved the funds after Somali officials reportedly warned they would halt returns cooperation unless the money was released. Part of the sum — 60 million kronor — went through the United Nations Development Programme to support reintegration programmes for returnees.
The Prime Minister’s Office in Mogadishu acted as the main coordinator on the Somali side, liaising with international partners. Sources familiar with the deal described the funding as essential for supporting individuals sent back from Sweden, many without refugee status.
Sweden’s aid agency Sida initially opposed the redirection, citing accountability risks in a country ranked among the world’s most corrupt. The Ministry of Justice later launched a separate programme through the International Organization for Migration.
Since the agreement, at least 28 forced deportations from Sweden to Somalia have taken place.
Gutale’s role draws scrutiny
Gutale, a long-serving bureaucrat who serves as permanent secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, allegedly held a technical assistance post partly financed by Swedish money through the migration organisation programme.
Internal emails seen by Ekot show Gutale participated in discussions pressing for the release of funds. He later signed the agreement when the 60 million kronor portion was disbursed via the United Nations Development Programme.
Legal specialists interviewed by the broadcaster said the overlap between negotiating aid and benefiting from it created clear conflict-of-interest risks.
The migration organisation programme, designed to attract diaspora experts with high salaries, had previously been scaled back by Sida over concerns about poor results and nepotism. A smaller version was revived in 2024 with Justice Ministry funding, supporting positions in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Swedish authorities have declined to name beneficiaries, citing confidentiality. Leaked documents, however, point to Gutale and possibly two others receiving substantial monthly stipends.
Gutale has rejected the claims. In a post on X on 19 December, he described the allegations as “blatant misinformation” and insisted he never received a Swedish salary.
Internal unease in Sweden
The deal exposed divisions within the Swedish government. One senior diplomat who opposed the approach was recalled to Stockholm, according to the investigation.
Swedish officials have defended the practice of discussing aid implementation with partner governments as routine. They have declined to comment on specific individuals named in the reports.
The controversy comes as Sweden’s centre-right government has stepped up deportations, with Somalia remaining a key partner despite ongoing insecurity from Al-Shabaab attacks.
Mogadishu pushes back
Hours after the Ekot broadcast, the Somali Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement calling the report “biased, misleading, and not grounded in verified facts”.
It stressed that all Swedish support passed through international organisations under formal agreements and rejected any suggestion of coercion or improper influence.
“No Swedish funds are paid directly to Somali government officials,” the statement said, adding that cooperation with Sweden followed standard diplomatic channels.
The office provided no detailed breakdown of the programme’s structure or spending.
Wider questions over aid and migration
The case has renewed debate about the risks of linking development aid to migration control, a model increasingly used by European countries.
Transparency advocates warn that such arrangements can foster opaque practices in high-corruption settings. Somalia regularly ranks near the bottom of global corruption indices, with past reports documenting aid diversion.
Civil society observers in both countries have called for independent investigations.
Sveriges Radio has stood by its reporting, based on months of document review and correspondence. Journalists say the findings raise legitimate concerns about oversight.
The affair highlights the delicate balance donors face when supporting governance in fragile states while pursuing domestic policy goals.
In Somalia, where clan networks and patronage remain influential, the allegations could further complicate Prime Minister Barre’s efforts to build public trust amid persistent security and economic challenges.
