The Ambassador of Sweden to Ethiopia (known formally as the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia) is the official representative of the government of Sweden to the president of Ethiopia and government of Ethiopia. The Swedish ambassador to Ethiopia is also accredited to the African Union, which has its headquarters in Addis Ababa, as well as to the neighboring country of Djibouti and the regional cooperation organization, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
History.
The Swedish representation in the Ethiopian Empire (Abyssinia) included a consulate from 1922 to 1936. In December 1929, the Swedish doctor Knut Hanner replaced the British subject A.D. Bethell as honorary consul and served until 1936. From 1936 to 1947, the Swedish legation in Cairo handled matters concerning Ethiopia.
In March 1945, "Ato" Abebe Retta, Haile Selassie's personal emissary, arrived in Stockholm to deliver a response to Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf's letter and to negotiate the employment of Swedes in Ethiopia. The Emperor's letter highlighted the valuable contributions of Swedish officers and Christian missions, expressing a desire for these efforts to resume when global conditions allowed. He also sought to establish diplomatic relations with Sweden, offering land and a residence in Addis Ababa for a Swedish Legation. In October of the same year, Envoy Widar Bagge was appointed as minister to Cairo, with accreditation also in Addis Ababa.
In the summer of 1948, Minister Bagge, who had been accredited in Addis Ababa, was recalled to Cairo. Gunnar Jarring served as Bagge's representative in Addis Ababa until August 1948, when he was appointed minister in New Delhi. Subsequently, Nils-Eric Ekblad was appointed "chargé d'affaires" in Addis Ababa, a diplomat of lower rank than a minister, reporting directly to Stockholm. Emperor Haile Selassie refused to acknowledge Bagge's recall, and the recall letter was deemed non-existent by the Imperial Chancellery.
From the perspective of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the appointment of a "chargé d'affaires" in Addis Ababa was seen as a strengthening of the diplomatic mission there. Ethiopia, however, held a different view, and in March 1949, it was reported that the ministry had abandoned this plan. Minister Bagge's recall letter was not delivered, meaning he would formally remain minister in Addis Ababa while continuing to be stationed in Cairo. In September 1950, Erik Wisén was appointed as Sweden's first resident envoy in Addis Ababa.
Since 1953, Sweden's ambassador to Ethiopia has been concurrently accredited to neighboring countries: Djibouti (1979–present), Eritrea (1993–1998), Madagascar (1961–1981), Mauritius (1977–1981), Somalia (1961–1964), South Yemen (1971–1981), and Sudan (1957–1966, 2002–2008). The ambassador is also accredited to the African Union in Addis Ababa and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Djibouti City.
In January 1960, an agreement was reached between the Swedish and Ethiopian governments on the mutual elevation of the respective countries' legations to embassies. The diplomatic rank was thereafter changed to ambassador instead of envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary. Sweden's newly appointed minister there, Åke Sjölin, was appointed as ambassador.
References.
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