Busch rejects UN criticism of Sweden’s Sami mining policy

Swedish Energy and Industry Minister Ebba Busch has rejected United Nations criticism that Sweden is failing to protect Sami rights in mining decisions, SVT reported. “Then the UN is wrong,” Busch said.

Sweden has repeatedly been criticised by UN bodies for not sufficiently protecting Sami rights when new mines are planned on Sami land. At the same time, several Swedish parties want to reduce the influence of reindeer herding on mining decisions.

“Cultural genocide is taking place in Kiruna,” said Lars-Marcus Kuhmunen, chairman of Gabna Sami village, a Sami reindeer herding community, in SVT’s programme “Reindeer in the way”. He was referring to plans for a new mine in the area.

Several mining projects in northern Sweden conflict with Sami interests. Reindeer herding is protected by UN declarations on Indigenous rights that Sweden has signed, but the UN says Sweden does not meet the requirements.

“We receive repeated criticism from various UN bodies, both in specific mining cases and because our legislation does not meet the requirements of international law,” said Christina Allard, a professor of legal science who was also an expert on the Swedish Reindeer Land Commission.

A new research report also found that Sami people do not have sufficient influence over mining projects in practice, despite Sweden’s new consultation law. “There is a major gap between Swedish law and international law,” said Rasmus Klöcker Larsen, a research director at the Stockholm Environment Institute.

In Kiruna, state-owned mining company LKAB is planning the Per Geijer mine. The area contains the European Union’s largest deposit of rare earth metals, which are important for the green transition.

However, reindeer migration routes have gradually been pushed aside as the mine and the town have expanded. In some places, the remaining route is only 50 metres wide, including where the new mine is planned.

Gabna Sami village says the mine would make it very difficult to continue traditional reindeer herding. “It is cultural genocide that is taking place. LKAB is state-owned, so the state is responsible,” Kuhmunen said.

Busch called the accusation “extremely serious”. “We have a very high level of rights for Indigenous people,” she said.

Six of Sweden’s eight parliamentary parties now want to make it easier to develop mines, while several parties in the governing Tidö bloc want to limit the influence of reindeer herding.

Busch rejected the UN’s criticism of Sweden’s treatment of Sami interests. “I do not know what you are referring to. We always take Sami interests into account when making decisions about mines. You only have to look at reality,” she said.