Swedish participation in the evacuation operation in Sudan
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns Swedish participation in an evacuation operation in Sudan. SD moves for approval that the government may make an armed force of at most 400 people available 1. S supports the government and considers that the situation requires a mandate for an armed force 2. M gives full mandate to the Armed Forces and has full confidence in its competence 3. V emphasizes the need for a strong mandate 4. C considers it necessary to act due to the serious situation. KD hopes for a successful operation and peaceful development 5. MP stands behind the committee initiative 6. L gives mandate for armed military personnel for evacuation and release operation 7.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Aron Emilsson (SD)
Mr. Speaker! I would initially like to express my approval of the Committee on Foreign Affairs' proposal for a decision. I would also like to extend a thank you to the committee for a consensus-oriented and effective work in a very unusual and expedited preparation procedure.
According to Chapter 9, Section 16, first paragraph of the Rules of Procedure, a committee may submit a proposal to the Riksdag on a subject within its area of responsibility, a so-called committee initiative. With the support of this right of initiative, the Committee on Foreign Affairs proposes that the Riksdag authorize the Government to place a Swedish armed force consisting of at most 400 persons at disposal until June 30, 2023, in order to support and carry out an evacuation operation concerning Swedish and foreign citizens as well as equipment from Sudan in accordance with international law, in close cooperation with other states and international organizations.
The Government submitted yesterday, Saturday, April 22, a basis for a committee initiative regarding Swedish participation in the evacuation operation in Sudan. According to the Government's assessment, the Riksdag's decision must be taken promptly. Therefore, the Committee on Foreign Affairs has considered it justified that the decision has been prepared in the form of a committee initiative.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Defence were present during the morning at the meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and provided a more detailed account of the basis for the evacuation of Swedish citizens. In Chapter 15, Section 16 of the Instrument of Government, it is stated that a Swedish armed force may be sent to another country if the Riksdag permits it, if it is permitted in a law specifying the conditions for the measure, or if the obligation to take the measure follows from an international agreement or an obligation that has been approved by the Riksdag.
The committee wishes, as in previous decisions regarding Swedish participation with armed force, to emphasize that democratic anchoring is essential to achieve strong popular support for the operations. That the Riksdag gives the government authorization to send Swedish troops on missions abroad is a decision that entails a significant responsibility associated with great risks.
The Swedish military contribution is proposed to include an evacuation force including transport aircraft capacity as well as capabilities for command, maintenance, protection, and security. The force shall be able, on its own or together with international partners, to carry out protection, rescue, and recovery operations if needs arise.
The effort is assessed to be able to be concluded by June 30, 2023, at the latest. How long the effort takes will, of course, depend on the developments in Sudan in the coming months. The timeframe for the contribution, however, provides the possibility to temporarily increase the contribution at short notice in order to maintain freedom of action in the event of a prolonged or further deteriorated security situation.
Mr. Speaker! For the Swedish citizens in Sudan, the situation is serious at this moment. It is associated with life-threatening danger to move even short distances in Khartoum, even with armored vehicles. Supplies of necessities including food and water are beginning to run out, as is the fuel for generators that supply homes, tele masts, and other critical infrastructure with electricity. Khartoum's international airport is closed and is reported to be in poor condition. Taken together, the current situation makes it very difficult at present to seek a safer location or leave the country on one's own.
The situation is rapidly changing. Agreements on ceasefires have been reached, which were subsequently not observed. We see it moving back and forth. There are currently no reports of injured Swedes. According to available information, the Swedes that the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has been able to reach are in relative safety, but at the same time, they testify to a very difficult situation and an increasing shortage of supplies.
Due to the gravity of the situation, the Committee on Foreign Affairs has made the same assessment as the government: that it is important to create freedom of action in order to be able to evacuate Swedes in need of consular support and staff with families at Sweden's embassy in Khartoum, and to the extent possible, assist other states in evacuating foreign citizens from Sudan by granting a mandate to an armed force.
Mr. Speaker! The Committee further notes that the basis in international law is normally constituted by a decision in the UN Security Council or an invitation from the host country. At the same time, we have been able to observe that the situation for Swedish citizens in Sudan is very serious and that Sudan has not complied with its obligations to protect foreign diplomatic personnel according to the Vienna Convention.
Against that background, the Committee disagrees with the Government's view that there is a certain international law space for limited evacuation operations concerning own citizens in exceptional security situations. The Committee on Foreign Affairs therefore proposes that the Riksdag authorize the Government to place a Swedish armed force consisting of at most 400 people at disposal with a timeframe until 30 June 2023 to support and carry out an evacuation operation of Swedish and foreign citizens as well as materiel from Sudan in accordance with international law.
I would like to take this opportunity to send a greeting to the employees at the embassy and not least to the defense personnel who will now be part of the evacuation operation, with all strength and effort to complete the operation.
Alexandra Völker (S)
Mr. Speaker! The extremely serious situation in Sudan has created a horrific humanitarian situation for people who are in the country. As a result of the military coup in the autumn of 2021, the situation has been strained for a long period. After intensive mediation attempts, violent fighting broke out last Saturday, April 15. It is fighting that has quickly escalated.
The serious situation means that our Swedish citizens and our deployed personnel who are in the country are in a very vulnerable situation. The conditions for evacuation are difficult. We Social Democrats support the government in the work to bring our Swedish citizens to safety.
That we today decide on a committee initiative to give the government a mandate to send armed forces is unique. But the gravity of the situation requires that politics quickly make decisive decisions.
The Government's assessment is that it is important to create additional freedom of action to be able to carry out an evacuation and that it requires that a mandate for armed force be granted. We make the decision to enable the Armed Forces to support the embassy in evacuating our Swedish citizens and bringing our deployed personnel and their families to safety.
We are a unanimous committee presenting the proposal in the chamber of the Riksdag.
The government makes the assessment that international law provides some room for limited evacuation operations regarding its own citizens in exceptional security situations. Here, Sweden also has consent for the operation from Sudan, which has been communicated via its embassy in Stockholm. The international law mandate is the foundation for all our military operations. Thus, that assessment is important.
To give the government authorization to send armed forces to an area where armed conflict is ongoing is not a decision we take lightly. I want to express my gratitude to all those who may participate in the evacuation effort in different ways. It is an incredibly difficult and risky task. I also want to express my gratitude to all of you home heroes, you who enable the Armed Forces to carry out their task – you parents, partners, children and other relatives who provide support here at home and lend out your loved ones.
Many Swedes are following the developments in Sudan with concern, and many have relatives on the ground in the area. Now, great efforts are underway within the international community to achieve a long-lasting ceasefire and return to a political process. The situation is extremely serious, risks becoming a humanitarian catastrophe, and requires the full commitment of the international community.
I would like to conclude by moving for the approval of the proposals in the report.
Ann-Sofie Alm (M)
Mr. Speaker! Warm thanks to all the parties in the committee here in the Riksdag who have truly worked to get this decision in place today! Thanks also to the Armed Forces who have trained and prepared themselves to always, at all times, be ready to defend Swedish interests and save lives.
The Moderates give a full mandate to the Armed Forces. We have full confidence in the competence that the Armed Forces possess regarding its own capabilities and in cooperation with others. We are, however, more than well aware that there are enormous risks with this operation.
Every minute in this speaker's chair is a minute that delays the effort aimed at saving lives. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I move with the utmost respect for the committee's proposed decision. I wish with all my heart that everyone will return home to their loved ones in safety.
Håkan Svenneling (V)
Mr. Speaker! The Swedish Parliament is making a decision today with express speed. We are showing that democracy works and can also be efficient when needed. It is a heavy and serious decision we are making. It concerns sending military personnel to assist and evacuate Swedes who are in distress in a very difficult situation in Sudan.
A week ago, two rival generals and their armies began a civil war in Sudan. The event came unexpectedly, as the transition to a civilian government was considered imminent. The fighting is taking place primarily in central Khartoum, which is the capital of Sudan. This means that all embassy staff and their families remain in the city and that gunfire has occurred in the areas where they live. A total of about a hundred Swedes are estimated to be in Sudan.
The Committee on Foreign Affairs has this morning taken a committee initiative for a Swedish evacuation operation. It will initially consist of 150 military personnel but can be expanded if needed to 400 people. The reason for the Riksdag making the decision is the large scale of the force and that a clear and strong mandate for the operation is needed. In this, we are united among the parties in the Riksdag. The international law mandate consists of a confirmed consent from the Sudanese government.
In the committee's position, we should have stated that Sweden should also, given the circumstances, be able to ensure the safety of locally employed personnel who have assisted Sweden's work in Sudan. Unfortunately, this is not done by the committee, which has led to a special statement from Vänsterpartiet and Miljöpartiet.
The more satisfied I am with the answers from the UD's head of legal affairs: "UD takes a great responsibility for all its employees. Their safety is a fundamental prerequisite for our operations." I assume and hope that the government continues its work from that starting point.
Sudan is in a sensitive transition from Omar al-Bashir's dictatorship to a more democratic Sudan. In the long term, Sweden now needs to support the people in Sudan's efforts for democracy. The people have been clear that they want democracy, but the military authorities have repeatedly tried to put spokes in the wheels of democratization. We must stand up for democracy and maintain a long-term commitment to the people of Sudan.
The development in Sudan has for a long time been characterized by foreign involvement. There are clear risks that the generals' rivalry develops into proxy wars, i.e., where the parties act with support from other countries, something that has occurred in other places in the region and not least in Sudan itself during the Cold War. The fact that Russia is also planning a military base on the coast shows the regional dimension that an escalated conflict can take. There are also plenty of authoritarian leaders who do not want to see a democratic development in Sudan. The risk of spillover effects is unfortunately great as security and democracy are very fragile in many of Sudan's neighboring countries.
Sweden and the rest of the world must therefore be clear in our demands on the parties. A ceasefire is the only thing that matters to create a lasting peace. With that, Mr. Speaker, I move for the approval of the proposals in the report.
Kerstin Lundgren (C)
Mr. Speaker! It is a unique decision that we are taking in the Riksdag today and which was taken in the Committee on Foreign Affairs earlier today. The security situation and the humanitarian situation in Sudan are so serious that it is necessary for us to act in this way. The situation in Sudan naturally affects first and foremost the Sudanese people, who had hoped for peace and a democratic development and now face intense domestic, regional and international efforts to achieve a lasting ceasefire in different ways, but also the involved actors' military buildup and increased hostilities.
Sudan is a party to the Vienna Convention and has diplomatic relations. From these, it appears that a receiving state shall take all appropriate measures to prevent attacks against the person, liberty, and dignity of diplomatic representatives - even in the event of armed conflict. This has not been complied with and cannot be complied with in Sudan now, and that means that the dispatched Swedish diplomatic personnel and their family members run a great risk. Therefore, it is necessary that we seek to protect them, just as we also seek to protect other countries' diplomats and dispatched UN personnel, for example, if that is possible.
Mr. Speaker! The Government is given an authorization to send Swedish troops on missions abroad. It is a serious decision that the Riksdag is making. We do it, as stated earlier, normally on an international law basis based on a UN mandate or an invitation from the host country. It is a very special situation, and the reference to the Vienna Convention and the situation that prevails is an important basis for our actions even here. We also naturally note the consent expressed from the Sudanese embassy in this part.
From the Center Party's side, we are grateful that the Armed Forces have the ability to act when required. Our thoughts naturally go to all those affected, but from this chamber especially to the deployed Swedish personnel and to those who are now to perform the very difficult and challenging mission that may be the case in Sudan. The situation is developing while we speak here. I hope that the window we see now can be utilized and that we get a short timeframe for this mission.
Thank you to all the relatives who send their loved ones to this effort! Thank you to those of you who make it possible! With that, Mr. Speaker, I move for approval of the proposals in the committee's unanimous report.
Magnus Berntsson (KD)
Mr. Speaker! The Committee on Foreign Affairs today presents this report on a Swedish participation in an evacuation operation in Sudan. For the sake of time, I do not wish to repeat what has already been said, but on behalf of the Christian Democrats, I only wish to move for the approval of the committee's proposal with the hope of a successful operation. I hope that we will once again, and in the near future, see a peaceful development in Sudan.
Katarina Luhr (MP)
Mr. Speaker! Most of it has already been said. As we have heard from previous speakers, the situation in Sudan is very serious. The situation in Khartoum is critical, and the security situation has deteriorated further. Fighting is ongoing inside the city, and there is a great shortage of supplies. In such a situation, Sweden must act and ensure the safety of our own deployed personnel and their families, but also for other Swedes and other international personnel who are in the country.
This is what the government and the Riksdag are now doing together. Through the government decision on 17 April to task the Armed Forces with the evacuation, and today's decision in the Riksdag to grant an expanded mandate, I hope that we have done everything to succeed with the evacuation. Sudan has also granted permission for such an operation via its embassy in Stockholm.
The matter concerns Sweden's possibilities to act as quickly and flexibly as possible during evacuation, but I also want to say a few words about Sudan.
The conflicts taking place right now are a catastrophe for the people in Sudan. The country has a conflict-ridden background and has in recent years been hit hard by climate change. They would need peace and democracy to be able to build a sustainable future. It is important that Sweden does not turn its back on the Sudanese now, but instead, to the extent possible, continues to support ceasefires and peace agreements and allows our humanitarian efforts to continue, even if through other channels than now if necessary.
We hope now that the effort will be successful so that we will very soon see our deployed personnel as well as all those affected safely back home in Sweden again.
Miljöpartiet supports the committee initiative, and I move for approval of the committee's proposal in the report. We also support Miljöpartiet's and Vänsterpartiet's special statement.
Martin Melin (L)
Mr. Speaker! Due to the serious and deteriorating security situation in Sudan and the danger it poses for Swedish citizens in the country, the Liberals have today, by approving the committee initiative that the Foreign Affairs Committee has developed over the weekend, given the government a mandate to use armed military personnel to carry out an evacuation and, if necessary, a rescue operation of the Swedish citizens who are in the country.
I have the highest confidence in the personnel from the Armed Forces who are to carry out this very, very difficult mission. I move for approval of the committee's proposal in the report.
The deliberation was hereby concluded.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.