Eswatini Accepts US Deportees Amid Legal Controversy

Fri Oct 10 2025 16:18:12 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Despite ongoing legal challenges from human rights groups, Eswatini has accepted a group of 10 deportees from the United States, raising concerns about the legality and transparency of such agreements.

The government of Eswatini has accepted 10 deportees from the United States, despite legal efforts by rights groups to halt the process. This batch follows a previous group of deportees amidst accusations of executive overreach in the terms of the agreement between the two nations. Activists express concerns about the lack of parliamentary consent and potential democratic regression in the country.

The US has deported 10 individuals to Eswatini despite rights groups in the southern African state mounting legal action to block the plan.

This is the second batch of deportees that the Trump administration has sent to Eswatini as part of its rigorous immigration enforcement. The Eswatini prison department asserted that the ten deportees have been 'securely accommodated' and pose no immediate threat to the public.

In July, Eswatini accepted five deportees deemed 'deprived monsters' by the US government; since then, one has returned to Jamaica while others are expecting similar repatriation.

On Sunday, the government announced its intention to accept 11 deportees, following an agreement with the US to cooperate in this manner, although there was no explanation for the arrival of only ten individuals. Their identities remain undisclosed.

The deportees' arrival coincides unsettlingly with a court case set to resume against such deportations in Mbabane. The Southern African Litigation Centre (SALC) and other civil rights groups contend that the government’s actions represent a significant overreach of executive power and violate constitutional mandates which require parliamentary consent for international agreements.

Activists have protested against the deportation deal, arguing it signifies a regression in democratic practices more than two decades after Eswatini's constitutional reforms aimed at enhancing parliamentary rights.

According to the SALC's Melusi Simelane, This milestone should reflect a maturation of our democracy—stronger rule of law, greater accountability, and a clearer separation of powers.

However, the Eswatini government defends its actions, stating they acted within their rights, as the constitution allows for such arrangements with foreign nations. Despite some parliamentary concerns voiced regarding the deal, Prime Minister Russell Dlamini maintained that the agreement was enacted at a 'top clearance level.'

The deal has raised alarm bells in neighboring South Africa over potential security risks, as the deportees could cross into its borders. To address these concerns, Eswatini has assured that the deportees are held in solitary confinement at a secure location.

Eswatini, a small landlocked nation surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique, has been ruled by King Mswati III since 1986, navigating a complex balance between governance and international relations.