STOCKHOLM MONDAY 25 JUNE 2007- The governments of Afghanistan and Sweden, together with the UN refugee agency, today sign an agreement outlining the terms for the voluntary repatriation of Afghans from Sweden.

The Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Kabul on Saturday between the Swedish Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ann Wilkens; the Deputy Minister for Refugees and Repatriation, Fazal Ahmad Azimi; and the UNHCR Representative in Afghanistan, Salvatore Lombardo. The agreement is valid until December 31st, 2007.

"This MoU gives the three parties a framework to coordinate a phased and humane process of assisted returns based on the principles of voluntariness, dignity and safety," said Lombardo at the signing ceremony in MoRR. "It will also help to ensure proper planning for the sustainable reintegration of returnees."

Those who qualify include Afghan citizens who hold permanent residence permits in Sweden, Afghans with pending applications for asylum in Sweden, as well as rejected asylum cases. The return process of Afghans without protection concerns or compelling humanitarian needs will be phased, orderly and in a humane manner.

The Swedish government will offer eligible Afghans financial assistance up to their final destination. Those with Swedish residence permits who wish to return will receive a travel allowance as well as a cash grant for reintegration. The cash amount is a maximum of 10,000 Swedish Crowns (SEK), approximately US $1,430, for each adult and half the amount for each child under 18 years of age. The maximum allowance for each family is 40,000 SEK, or US $5,720.

Eligible Afghans whose applications for residence permits have been rejected and who opt for voluntary repatriation, can apply for a special allowance starting August 1st 2007. The allowance amounts to 20,000 SEK per adult and half the amount for each child, with a ceiling of 50,000 SEK (US $7,150) per family.

There are 6,904 Afghans in Sweden, including 5,810 recognised refugees and 594 asylum seekers who arrived recently and 500 whose cases have been rejected. 13 have returned including 7 deported since 2005. Most of the Afghans who are effected by the decision have lived in Sweden for years, some as long as 6 years.

At a time when the situation in Afghanistan is only getting worse and when the whole world including military institutions like NATO and ISAF are experiencing increasing violence in the country the agreement comes as a shock to Afghans living in Sweden. Several domonstrations have been held in different cities of Sweden by Afghans, the recent one in the city of Borås on 30^th June. More demonstrations are planned to take place in Stockholm and Oslo on 31^th and 27^th July respectively.


We at Safis Web look at the decision made by the migration office with great concern. We assess the situation in Afghanistan to be very dangerous and consider the agreement signed in by the two governments and UNHCR to be unjustified, inhumane and politically motivated. Over 52,000 Afghan refugees were forcely repatriated from Iran last month and the Swedish decision to do the same is going to create social and economal chaos in the already devastated Afghanistan.

We appeal to the government of Sweden and the migration minister Tobias Billström to show more consideration to Geneva Convention and resptect the human rights drafts signed in by the Swedish government.


Safis Web Team