Eswatini’s government has confirmed receiving $5.1 million from the Trump administration in exchange for accepting deportees from the United States, shedding light on a secretive immigration deal that has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups and lawmakers.
Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg revealed the payment during a parliamentary session, stating that the Ministry of Finance had been unaware of the deal until after the funds were transferred.
“We were told it was for the US deportees after we enquired,” Rijkenberg told lawmakers.
The confirmation follows months of scrutiny over the arrangement, first brought to light in September by Human Rights Watch.
The rights group said it had obtained a copy of the agreement under which Eswatini agreed to accept up to 160 US deportees in exchange for funding to enhance its “border and migration management capacity.”
So far, the southern African kingdom has received two batches of deportees – five in July and 10 in October.
The deal has sparked outrage among rights groups who accuse Eswatini’s monarchy – led by King Mswati III – of trading in vulnerable individuals for financial gain under the guise of development aid.
Critics have also raised concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the agreement, particularly given the apparent exclusion of key government ministries from the negotiation process.
The Trump administration adopted an aggressive stance on immigration during its second term, often seeking deals with third countries to accept deportees in exchange for financial support or political concessions.
JN/APA