| Ambassador of Sweden to Gabon | |
|---|---|
| | |
Incumbent since 2024Joakim Vaverka | |
| Ministry for Foreign Affairs | |
| Style | His or Her Excellency (formal) Mr. or Madam Ambassador (informal) |
| Reports to | Minister for Foreign Affairs Swedish Embassy, Kinshasa |
| Seat | Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo [a] |
| Appointer | Government of Sweden |
| Term length | No fixed term |
| Inaugural holder | Dag Malm |
| Formation | 1965 |
The Ambassador of Sweden to Gabon (known formally as the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Gabonese Republic) is the official representative of the government of Sweden to the president of Gabon and government of Gabon. Since Sweden does not have an embassy in Libreville, Sweden's ambassador in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, is also accredited to Libreville, the capital of Gabon.
In May 1960, a Swedish delegation undertook a trip to West Africa in which nine countries were visited, including Gabon. The purpose of the journey was, among other things, to provide Swedish authorities with the supplementary information that was needed in order to comprehensively assess the appropriate extent of Swedish representation in this part of Africa. [1]
On the occasion of the Gabonese Republic's declaration of independence on 17 August 1960, Foreign Minister Östen Undén sent a congratulatory telegram to its president and head of government, Léon M'ba. In the telegram, it was stated that the Swedish government recognized Gabon as a sovereign and independent state and expressed hopes for friendly and cordial relations between the two countries. At the same time, King Gustaf VI Adolf also sent a telegram of congratulations. [2] At the celebration of Gabon's first anniversary as an independent state on 17 August 1961, Sweden was represented at the festivities in Libreville by Consul Bengt Rösiö in Léopoldville in the capacity of ambassadeur en mission spéciale. [3]
In January 1961, it was proposed in the government budget bill that the Swedish consulate in Léopoldville, Republic of the Congo be replaced by an embassy. [4] The embassy opened in 1962, and in 1965 the Swedish ambassador in Léopoldville was also accredited to Libreville, with residence in Léopoldville (later renamed Kinshasa).
| Name | Period | Title | Notes | Presented credentials | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dag Malm | 1965–1967 | Ambassador | Resident in Léopoldville | [5] | |
| Olof Bjurström | 1967–1971 | Ambassador | Resident in Kinshasa | 25 Maj 1968 | [6] [7] |
| Henrik Ramel | 1972–1976 | Ambassador | Resident in Kinshasa | [8] | |
| Ragnar Petri | 1977–1979 | Ambassador | Resident in Kinshasa | [9] | |
| Karl Henrik Andersson | 1980–1984 | Ambassador | Resident in Kinshasa (1980–83) and Stockholm (1983–84) | [10] [11] | |
| – | 1985–1986 | Ambassador | Vacant | [12] [13] | |
| Olof Skoglund | 1987–1990 | Ambassador | Resident in Stockholm | [14] | |
| – | 1991–1991 | Ambassador | Vacant | [15] | |
| Carl-Erhard Lindahl | 1992–2001 | Ambassador | Resident in Stockholm | [16] | |
| Robert Rydberg | 2002–2003 | Ambassador | Resident in Kinshasa | [17] | |
| Magnus Wernstedt | 2004–2007 | Ambassador | Resident in Kinshasa | [18] | |
| Helena Rietz | 2007–2008 | Ambassador | Resident in Kinshasa | [19] | |
| Johan Borgstam | 2010–2011 | Ambassador | Resident in Kinshasa | [20] | |
| Mette Sunnergren | 2011–2013 | Ambassador | Resident in Kinshasa | [21] | |
| Annika Ben David | 2013–2016 | Ambassador | Resident in Kinshasa | [22] | |
| Maria Håkansson | 2016–2019 | Ambassador | Resident in Kinshasa | [23] | |
| Henric Råsbrant | 2019–2024 | Ambassador | Resident in Kinshasa | 6 May 2021 | [24] |
| Joakim Vaverka | 2024–present | Ambassador | Resident in Kinshasa | September 2025 | [25] |
Madame Mette SUNNERGREN, en qualité d'Ambassadeur Extraordinaire et Plénipotentiaire du Royaume de Suède près la République Gabonaise, avec résidence à Kinshasa en République Démocratique du Congo.[Ms. Mette SUNNERGREN, in her capacity as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Gabonese Republic, with residence in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.]
Madame Annika BEN DAVID, en qualité d'Ambassadeur Extraordinaire et Plénipotentiaire de la République du Royaume de Suède près la République Gabonaise, avec résidence à Kinshasa en République Démocratique du Congo.[Mrs. Annika BEN DAVID, in her capacity as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Gabonese Republic, with residence in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.]
Madame Carina Maria HAKANSSON, en qualité d'Ambassadeur extraordinaire et plénipotentiaire du Royaume de Suède près la République Gabonaise, avec résidence à Kinshasa[Ms. Carina Maria HAKANSSON, in her capacity as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Gabonese Republic, residing in Kinshasa]