Ousman
Sonko, the longest serving Minister of the Interior (10 years), who was
relieved of his post on Friday 16 September 2016, is currently in Sweden
seeking permanent residence, according to Aftonbladet, a Swedish daily
newspaper.
“I
can confirm that a person with that name has applied for a residence permit in
Sweden,” said Irene Sokolow on the Migration Board’s press department.
Since
last Friday, it was unclear where Ousman Sonko was. But now Aftonbladet
newspaper has reported that the ex-minister had made it to Sweden on Tuesday.
Having
sought for a residence permit, according to an informant, Sonko landed at the
airport on Tuesday evening and, shortly thereafter, he applied for asylum.
A
member of the Migration Board has confirmed that an application for a residence
permit has been received.
Otherwise,
however, the authority is reticent about the case.
“I
can confirm that an application for a residence permit has been received from a
person who has the name you mentioned,” said Irene Sokolow at the Migration
Board’s press department.
“What is due in the application, whether it is
asylum or something else, I cannot say. It’s confidential.”
Migration
Board does not want to go out with details of where Sonko is located. Normally,
he would have been transferred to the Agency’s arrival accommodation in
Singapore.
“We
make individual assessments in each case in terms of accommodation and other
circumstances. But what happened in this particular case, I cannot speak
about,” said Pierre Karatzian at the Migration Board’s press service.
“When
people who have high ranks in foreign governments seeking residency in Sweden,
the Migration Board informs the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or other government
agencies,” Pierre Karatzian added.
