The Ambassador of Sweden to Benin (known formally as the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Republic of Benin) is the official representative of the government of Sweden to the president of Benin and government of Benin. Since Sweden does not have an embassy in Cotonou, Sweden's ambassador to Benin is based in Stockholm, Sweden.
History On the occasion of the Republic of Dahomey's declaration of independence on 1 August 1960, Sweden's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Östen Undén, stated in a congratulatory telegram to Dahomey's head of government, Hubert Maga, that the Swedish government recognized Dahomey as a sovereign and independent state and expressed the hope for friendly and cordial relations between the two countries. At the same time, King Gustaf VI Adolf also sent a congratulatory telegram.
In November 1961, Sweden's ambassador in Lagos, Nigeria, , was appointed to also serve as ambassador to Porto Novo, where Sweden had not previously had diplomatic representation. In January 1962, Kellberg presented his letters of credence to President Hubert Maga, along with a gift from the King.
Sweden's ambassador to Dahomey/Benin has over the years been accredited from the neighboring countries Nigeria and Ivory Coast. Since 2015, the position has been held by a Stockholm-based ambassador-at-large, who is also ambassador to a number of other countries in West Africa.
List of representatives NamePeriodTitleResident / Concurrent accreditationNotesPresented credentialsRefRepublic of Dahomey (1958–1975)Love Kellberg1961–1963AmbassadorResident in LagosJanuary 1962Karl Henrik Andersson1964–1967AmbassadorResident in AbidjanCarl Swartz1968–1969AmbassadorResident in LagosBertil Arvidson1970–1972AmbassadorResident in LagosPierre Bothén1973–1974AmbassadorResident in LagosPeople's Republic of Benin (1975–1990)Karl-Anders Wollter1975–1977AmbassadorResident in LagosVidar Hellners1977–1981AmbassadorResident in Lagos–1982–1982AmbassadorVacantBengt Borglund1983–1987AmbassadorResident in AbidjanArne Ekfeldt1987–1990AmbassadorResident in AbidjanRepublic of Benin (1990–present)Arne Ekfeldt1990–1992AmbassadorResident in AbidjanPeter Bruce1992–1995AmbassadorResident in AbidjanBo Wilén1996–1999AmbassadorResident in AbidjanLars Ekström2000–2002AmbassadorResident in LagosBirgitta Holst Alani2002–2005AmbassadorResident in AbujaLars-Owe Persson2005–2008AmbassadorResident in AbujaPer Lindgärde2008–2012AmbassadorResident in AbujaSvante Kilander2012–2015AmbassadorResident in AbujaPer Carlson2015–2017AmbassadorResident in Stockholm3 March 2015Maria Leissner5 October 2017 – 2021AmbassadorResident in StockholmPolitical appointee (non-career diplomat)3 May 2018Mia Rimby2021–2025AmbassadorResident in Stockholm20 January 2022Katrin Månsson2025–presentAmbassadorResident in Stockholm
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