Åke Sjölin

Åke Magnus Valdemar Sjölin (26 August 1910 – 19 October 1999) was a Swedish diplomat. Sjölin began his career in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1937 and held diplomatic posts in the United States, Argentina, and Norway before becoming an ambassador in the Middle East in the late 1950s. He later served as ambassador in Africa and Asia, including South Vietnam, where he was Sweden’s last envoy before diplomatic relations changed in 1967. That same year, he became consul general in Berlin, a role he held until 1972, before concluding his career as ambassador to several West African nations from 1972 to 1976.

Early life Sjölin was born on 26 August 1910 in Lindesberg, Sweden, the son of mayor Magnus Sjölin and his wife Svea (née Rehnvall). He passed studentexamen in Lund in 1928 and received a Candidate of Law degree from Stockholm University College in 1933. He was posted to Chicago in 1938, Washington, D.C. in 1939, and Buenos Aires in 1942. In 1943, he became second legation secretary in Buenos Aires and was later appointed first secretary at the Foreign Ministry in 1945. He was promoted to director (byråchef) in 1950 and served as embassy counsellor in Oslo from 1952 to 1957.

He then moved to Asia, serving as ambassador to Bangkok, Rangoon, Kuala Lumpur, and Saigon from 1964 to 1967, with additional responsibilities in Vientiane (1965–1967) and Singapore (1966–1967).

Later that year, he was appointed consul general in Berlin, a position he held until 1972. He then served as ambassador to Rabat, Nouakchott, Dakar, and Banjul from 1972 to 1976. He was interred on 3 May 2000 at .

Awards and decorations

Ethiopian Red Cross Medal