• Afghanistan 2021
When the US withdrew its troops from Afghanistan and the Taliban took over, the security situation deteriorated. The armed forces were tasked with evacuating people with connections to Sweden and managed to get over 1,000 people out of Kabul, including Swedish embassy staff, all local employees, their relatives, a number of Afghan women’s rights activists and journalists.
That the government early evacuated Swedes from Sudan may be a consequence of the operation in Afghanistan, says Hans Ilis-Alm, teacher at the Norwegian Defense Academy:
– Sweden received quite a lot of criticism after the Afghanistan evacuation, that we were late for a political decision. It could be things that come into play.
• Libya 2011
About 40 Swedes were working in Libya when the civil war broke out. At first, Swedes were evacuated by Italian transport aircraft. The Defense Forces then sent a Hercules plane and armed air base fighters tasked with protecting the plane from attack.
• Congo-Kinshasa 2008
Two Swedish journalists and around 90 aid workers were evacuated by UN helicopter from eastern Congo-Kinshasa. They found themselves in the middle of the unrest when a rebel leader threatened to take the city of Goma.
• Lebanon 2006
Due to the war in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, the most extensive evacuation ever of people with domicile in Sweden was carried out. Over 8,000 people were evacuated from Lebanon after the violence.
– Masses of people were evacuated to Cyprus, most by ship. It was a rather chaotic situation and you learned a lot from it, says Hans Ilis-Alm.
• Kongo-Brazzaville 1998
Three Swedish and two Finnish missionaries were stuck in the country after civil war broke out. They were later able to be evacuated with the help of French soldiers.
– France has a fairly large presence and resources in Africa and is therefore quick to act. They have not only military but also political connections.
• Angola, 90-tal
Swedes, among other aid workers and embassy staff, had to be evacuated from the capital Luanda after fighting broke out during the civil war.
– Those who can be sure that a country is doing its utmost to get them out are those who are sent by the state. There you are prepared to risk quite a lot, says Hans Ilis-Alm.
