Eswatini has confirmed the arrival of 10 foreign nationals deported from the United States, intensifying scrutiny over a controversial bilateral agreement that allows Washington to transfer convicted individuals to the southern African kingdom.
According to His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS), the deportees – described by US authorities as high-risk offenders from countries such as Jamaica, Cuba, Laos, Vietnam and Yemen – were received on Monday and are being held in a secure facility.
HMCS spokesperson Baphelele Kunene said the individuals are in good health and undergoing admission procedures, adding that they pose no immediate threat to public safety.
“These nationals have been securely accommodated in one of the country’s correctional facilities as government continues to collaborate with relevant local and international stakeholders to facilitate their orderly repatriation,” Kunene said in a statement late Monday.
The deportations form part of a broader US strategy to relocate foreign convicts to third countries, often under bilateral agreements that critics say lack public oversight.
In Eswatini’s case, the arrangement reportedly allows for up to 160 deportees in exchange for $5.1 million to bolster border and migration management capacity.
Rights groups argue the deal was signed without parliamentary approval, violating Eswatini’s constitution.
The Eswatini government, however, maintains it acted within its constitutional mandate.
Prime Minister Russell Dlamini said the agreement was handled at “top clearance level,” while officials insist the deportees are being held under strict supervision and humane conditions.
Neighbouring South Africa has expressed concern about potential cross-border risks, given its porous frontier with Eswatini.
The identities of the individuals have not been disclosed and the government has yet to clarify the legal mechanism or timeline for their repatriation to countries of origin.
JN/APA