List of ambassadors of Sweden to Ethiopia

The Swedish representation in the Ethiopian Empire (Abyssinia) included a consulate from 1922 to 1936.{{cite web |url=https://sok.riksarkivet.se/?postid=Arkis+79000009-70df-4cff-85ab-b01d21755100&s=Balder |publisher=National Archives of Sweden |title=Beskickningsarkiv Addis Abeba |trans-title=Mission Archives Addis Ababa |access-date=9 January 2025 |language=sv}} In December 1929, the Swedish doctor {{ill|Knut Hanner|sv}} replaced the British subject A.D. Bethell as honorary consul and served until 1936.{{cite book |url=https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:279293/FULLTEXT01.pdf |last=Halldin Norberg |first=Viveca |title=Swedes in Haile Selassie's Ethiopia, 1924-1952: a study in early development co-operation |year=1977 |publisher=Scandinavian Institute of African Studies |location=Uppsala |isbn=9171061118 |id={{LIBRIS|7603162}} |page=47}}{{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/vemardet/1967/0364.html |editor-last=Lagerström |editor-first=Sten |year=1966 |title=Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1967 |trans-title=Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1967 |location=Stockholm |publisher=Norstedt |language=sv |id={{SELIBR|3681518}} |page=348}} 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.{{cite book |url=https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:279293/FULLTEXT01.pdf |last=Halldin Norberg |first=Viveca |title=Swedes in Haile Selassie's Ethiopia, 1924-1952: a study in early development co-operation |year=1977 |publisher=Scandinavian Institute of African Studies |location=Uppsala |isbn=9171061118 |id={{LIBRIS|7603162}} |page=175}} In October of the same year, Envoy Widar Bagge was appointed as minister to Cairo, with accreditation also in Addis Ababa.{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1945-10-24/4/SVD |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Fyra nya sändebud: Madrid, Belgrad, Ankara och Kairo-Addis Abeba |trans-title=Four new envoys: Madrid, Belgrade, Ankara and Cairo-Addis Ababa |page=4A |date=1945-10-24 |access-date=9 January 2025 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}

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.{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1949-03-15/9/SVD |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Etiopiens kejsare missnöjd med oss |trans-title=The Emperor of Ethiopia is unhappy with us |author=Svale |page=A9 |date=1949-03-15 |access-date=9 January 2025 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}

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.{{cite news |url=https://static.bonniernews.se/gcs/arkivet/1949/03/bib13991099_19490317_11161_74_483940/bib13991099_19490317_11161_74_0005-4969x6541.jpeg |newspaper=Dagens Nyheter |title=Bagge kvarstår som minister i Addis Abeba |trans-title=Bagge remains as minister in Addis Ababa |page=A5 |date=1949-03-17 |access-date=9 January 2025 |language=sv}} In September 1950, {{ill|Erik Wisén|sv|Erik Wisén (diplomat)}} was appointed as Sweden's first resident envoy in Addis Ababa.{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1950-09-08/3/SVD |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=E. J. S. Wisén blev sändebud i Addis Abeba |trans-title=E. J. S. Wisén became envoy in Addis Ababa |page=3 |date=1950-09-08 |access-date=9 January 2025 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}

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.{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1960-01-12/9/SVD |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Ambassadör i Etiopien |trans-title=Ambassador in Ethiopia |page=A9 |date=1960-01-12 |access-date=13 November 2023 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}

• Ethiopia–Sweden relations

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/embassies/ethiopia-addis-abeba/|Embassy of Sweden, Addis Ababa}} {{lang in|sv|en}}

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