Eswatini is a small, landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered by South Africa on three sides and Mozambique on the fourth. With a population of around 1.2 million, the nation is highly dependent on foreign aid and regional cooperation. This geographic and economic dependence may influence its willingness to host foreign deportees in exchange for diplomatic or financial support.
The United States deported five men from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen, and Cuba to Eswatini after their home countries refused to accept them. Under the arrangement, the US sent the individuals to a “third country.” Eswatini agreed to host them temporarily for up to one year, raising concerns that the country was being used as a convenient destination without any direct connection to the migrants.
The Eswatini government confirmed that the five deported men would be held in secure conditions for up to 12 months. Officials assured that they would be treated humanely. However, the absence of public consultation and limited disclosure about the deal’s terms have drawn criticism and suspicion regarding the transparency of the agreement.
Local civil society groups, opposition leaders, and women’s organizations described the arrangement as secretive, exploitative, and degrading. They questioned why Eswatini should host migrants from unrelated countries and warned that the deal resembled “human trafficking disguised as deportation.” Critics argue that such actions undermine the nation’s sovereignty and human rights commitments.
Yes. The United States has previously made similar third-country deportation arrangements with nations like South Sudan and El Salvador. These agreements are typically used when a migrant’s country of origin refuses repatriation, prompting the US to negotiate temporary relocation with another partner country.
Eswatini operates under an absolute monarchy led by King Mswati III, with limited press freedom and weak institutional oversight. The country’s economic dependence on external aid and restricted civic participation make it more susceptible to opaque international agreements that bypass parliamentary scrutiny.
Public protests erupted outside the US Embassy in Mbabane, where citizens carried placards reading “We are not your dumping ground” and “Eswatini is not a prison for US rejects.” Women’s organizations and activists expressed concern over the human rights and dignity of the deported individuals, calling for greater transparency from both governments.
Human rights organizations are urging the Eswatini government to suspend the deportation deal and launch an independent investigation into its terms. They demand public disclosure, legal oversight, and assurances that Eswatini will not be used as a detention hub for global deportees. Advocacy groups also call for respect for international human rights norms and national sovereignty.
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