List of ambassadors of Sweden to Benin
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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.
Mr. or Madam Ambassador (informal)
| Ambassador of Sweden to Benin | |
|---|---|
 | |
Incumbent since 2025Katrin Månsson | |
| Ministry for Foreign Affairs | |
| Style | His or Her Excellency (formal) Mr. or Madam Ambassador (informal) |
| Reports to | Minister for Foreign Affairs |
| Seat | Stockholm, Sweden[a] |
| Appointer | Government of Sweden |
| Term length | No fixed term |
| Formation | November 1961 |
| First holder | Love Kellberg |
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.[1][2]
In November 1961, Sweden's ambassador in Lagos, Nigeria, Love Kellberg, was appointed to also serve as ambassador to Porto Novo, where Sweden had not previously had diplomatic representation.[3] In January 1962, Kellberg presented his letters of credence to President Hubert Maga, along with a gift from the King.[4]
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
| Name | Period | Title | Notes | Presented credentials | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic of Dahomey (1958–1975) | |||||
| Love Kellberg | 1961–1963 | Ambassador | Resident in Lagos | January 1962 | [5][4] |
| Karl Henrik Andersson | 1964–1967 | Ambassador | Resident in Abidjan | [6] | |
| Carl Swartz | 1968–1969 | Ambassador | Resident in Lagos | [7] | |
| Bertil Arvidson | 1970–1972 | Ambassador | Resident in Lagos | [8] | |
| Pierre Bothén | 1973–1974 | Ambassador | Resident in Lagos | [9] | |
| People's Republic of Benin (1975–1990) | |||||
| Karl-Anders Wollter | 1975[b]–1977 | Ambassador | Resident in Lagos | [10] | |
| Vidar Hellners | 1977–1981 | Ambassador | Resident in Lagos | [12] | |
| – | 1982–1982 | Ambassador | Vacant | [13] | |
| Bengt Borglund | 1983–1987 | Ambassador | Resident in Abidjan | [14] | |
| Arne Ekfeldt | 1987–1990 | Ambassador | Resident in Abidjan | [15] | |
| Republic of Benin (1990–present) | |||||
| Arne Ekfeldt | 1990–1992 | Ambassador | Resident in Abidjan | [15] | |
| Peter Bruce | 1992–1995 | Ambassador | Resident in Abidjan | [16] | |
| Bo Wilén | 1996–1999 | Ambassador | Resident in Abidjan | [17] | |
| Lars Ekström | 2000[c]–2002 | Ambassador | Resident in Lagos | [c] | |
| Birgitta Holst Alani | 2002–2005 | Ambassador | Resident in Abuja | [20] | |
| Lars-Owe Persson | 2005–2008 | Ambassador | Resident in Abuja | [21] | |
| Per Lindgärde | 2008–2012 | Ambassador | Resident in Abuja | [22] | |
| Svante Kilander | 2012–2015 | Ambassador | Resident in Abuja | [23] | |
| Per Carlson | 2015–2017 | Ambassador | Resident in Stockholm | 3 March 2015 | [24] |
| Maria Leissner | 5 October 2017 – 2021 | Ambassador | Resident in Stockholm | 3 May 2018 | [25][26] |
| Mia Rimby | 2021–2025 | Ambassador | Resident in Stockholm | 20 January 2022 | [27][28] |
| Katrin Månsson | 2025–present | Ambassador | Resident in Stockholm | ||
Footnotes
- The Swedish ambassador to Benin is resident in Stockholm, Sweden.
- Sveriges statskalender lists Ambassador Lars Ekström in Nigeria as accredited, among others, to Benin and Togo from 1997, which is most likely a misprint.[18] Ambassador Bo Wilén in Ivory Coast was accredited to Benin and Togo from 1996 to 1999 according to the 1999 edition of Sveriges statskalender[17] as well as in Vem är det (2000).[19] Ekström was most likely accredited to Benin and Togo from the year 2000, as the same source states that Ekström was accredited to Niger from that year and that Bo Wilén left the post in 1999.
