Expelled diplomat: aid and corruption in Mozambique
An exclusive interview with Lars Wahlund, the Swedish diplomat who was expelled from Mozambique in December 1991, was on the cover of Development Today in February 1992.
Wahlund’s job at the Swedish Embassy in Maputo was to monitor the Mozambican economy. In his opinion, widespread corruption in Mozambique would not have been possible without substantial flows of development support to the country. Import support, a major part of the Swedish aid portfolio to Mozambique, and general balance of payment support provided the corrupt civil servants ample opportunity for personal gain, according to Wahlund.
The Swedish diplomat was also highly critical of US and EU food aid which made life difficult for farmers and ended up on the black market.