-Close Monrovia Embassy in 2026
MONROVIA – The Embassy of Sweden in Monrovia announced Friday, December 5, 2025, that the Swedish government will phase out its bilateral development cooperation with Liberia and close its diplomatic mission here by the end of 2026.
In a public statement released by the embassy, Swedish officials described the decision as “difficult,” attributing it to overall budget reductions in Sweden’s international development cooperation framework. The move is part of a broader recalibration of Swedish aid, affecting several African nations including Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
According to the announcement, the phasing-out process will be conducted “in a responsible and orderly way,” with all bilateral cooperation operations scheduled to terminate by the end of August 2026. The embassy itself will be closed during the course of that year.
The statement was keen to clarify that the decision is solely a result of Swedish budgetary constraints and “is not in any way linked to policies or events in Liberia.” It emphasized that Swedish support for Liberia through multilateral channels—including global funding to international organizations and contributions via the European Union—will continue unaffected.
Despite the withdrawal of direct bilateral aid, Sweden pledged to maintain and deepen its relationship with Liberia. The embassy outlined an intention to “strengthen and broaden the partnership… beyond development cooperation,” specifically highlighting enhanced trade and business relations as a future priority.
“Sweden remains a steadfast partner to Liberia,” the statement read, underscoring the importance of shared priorities, values, and “strong historic ties” as a foundation for continued positive relations.
The Embassy of Sweden in Monrovia is accredited to both Liberia and Sierra Leone. The implications of the closure for diplomatic relations with Sierra Leone were not immediately detailed in the release.
The announcement marks the end of a significant chapter in Swedish-Liberian relations, redirecting a partnership long anchored in development assistance toward a future model focused on trade and multilateral engagement.
