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Political Economy

Sweden would start giving economic aid to Mali

Thursday, 11 April 2013
Sweden will begin paying out bilateral aid to the Malian government again. The assistance, which was frozen after the military coup in March last year, is worth Skr250 million per year.

The basis for this decision is that Mali has launched a political process to restore the democratic order and to hold new elections in the summer, while there have been a security stability in the country, according to Swedish economic aid minister Gunilar Carlson.

"We believe that we can turn the page and get a more peaceful and democratic development in Mali," she said Swedish news network TT

She believes that it is important to keep make a regular and timely disbursement to the country.
To make sure that there is no danger that it is too early for such payments, the minister added, "There is always a balance. Our mission is primarily to ensure the poor people of this country, who lived through a year of turmoil and conflict, get the support they need. Therefore, we want to take a risk instead of waiting."

She hope that Mali is capable of holding early elections in the summer.

Despite freezing the financial disbursement to the country, Sweden continued to provide humanitarian assistance through the crisis period. In 2012, economic support mostly on humanitarian grounds from Sweden amounted to Skr90 million to Mali and around half a billion in the Sahel. Carlsson appreciate that humanitarian aid could amount to as much this year.

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