Criticism by Eritrea of Swedish ‘Ethiopian lobby’
Eritrea, about to become a recipient country for Swedish development aid, strongly criticises Sweden’s past record in Ethiopia and its current behaviour, DT 12/02 reports in July 1992.
A statement by the provisional Eritrean government points to Sweden’s long term support to the former Mengistu-led government, and its “ambivalence" about providing aid to Eritrea during the years of armed struggle. It blames the “the Ethiopian lobby" for curtailing emergency assistance via Swedish NGOs.
Sida had intended to use part of its assistance in the judicial sector through the new Justice Ministry.
But the provisional government has flatly refused Swedish aid in the area of democracy and human rights. The Eritreans prefer material support in the form of cars and computers.