Outrage In Eswatini As U.S. Deportees With Criminal Records Arrive Amid Secretive Deal

 

Anger is spreading across Africa and within the small southern African nation of Eswatini after it was revealed that five deportees from the United States—convicted of serious crimes—have been transferred to its prisons under a little-known agreement.

The Eswatini government confirmed the men, who are nationals of Jamaica, Laos, Cuba, Yemen, and Vietnam, are being held in isolated units. U.S. authorities described them as dangerous criminals whose home countries refused to accept them. The group includes individuals convicted of child rape, murder, and armed robbery.

Eswatini, an absolute monarchy about the size of New Jersey, acknowledged “widespread concern” over their presence. Acting government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli said Friday the men pose “no threat to the country or its citizens” and are being held in solitary confinement, though she declined to name the specific prisons for security reasons.

Mdluli added that discussions between Eswatini, the U.S., and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are underway to eventually repatriate the detainees to their home countries, but no clear timeline exists. “There are no timelines at present,” she said.

Controversial Deal Raises Sovereignty Concerns

The arrangement, described by Mdluli as the result of “months of robust high-level engagements,” has sparked widespread backlash. Many critics are questioning why Eswatini agreed to receive foreign nationals deemed too dangerous to remain in the U.S., especially as the nation faces its own economic and security challenges.

Opposition party PUDEMO condemned the move, calling it a “serious risk to our already vulnerable communities” already plagued by high crime rates and resource shortages.

“We must not be treated as a dumping ground for those deemed unfit to live elsewhere,” PUDEMO said in a public statement.

Lucky Lukhele of the Swaziland Solidarity Network, based in South Africa, called the situation “clear racism” and warned that Eswatini’s overcrowded prisons are ill-equipped to handle more inmates. “Prisoners get one meal a day—this is not sustainable,” he said.

The Multi Stakeholder Forum (MSF), a coalition of civil society organizations in Eswatini, echoed the alarm, warning that “sovereignty and dignity must not be traded off for unclear deals or political expediency.”

U.S. Deportation Strategy Under Scrutiny

The deportation to Eswatini comes amid broader U.S. efforts to offload unwanted deportees—some of whom are not American citizens—to third countries. This strategy, heightened under former President Donald Trump, has caused diplomatic strain across Africa.

Nigerian officials recently spoke out against U.S. pressure to accept foreign deportees, including Venezuelans. “There is considerable pressure on African countries,” Nigeria’s foreign minister Yusuf Tuggar said last week, linking it to U.S. policy changes such as increased tariffs and visa restrictions.

A U.S. Supreme Court decision earlier this year allowed for the deportation of certain migrants to third countries without prior notice. Shortly after, eight individuals with criminal records were sent to South Sudan, a country still teetering on the edge of civil war.

A U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson claimed the Eswatini deportees were “so uniquely barbaric” that their own countries refused to receive them. The official described the transfer as a necessary move to protect American communities.

Regional Fallout and Fears of Spillover

The development has also sparked concern in neighboring South Africa, Eswatini’s largest trading partner. A South African government source warned that the deportees may attempt to cross the porous border, creating additional security threats.

“There is a feeling that some inside the Trump administration could be using this to destabilize South Africa,” said the source, who added that South Africa had been approached to accept deportees and refused.

The move comes just as Eswatini faces new U.S. tariffs—10% on its exports—as part of broader trade penalties affecting several African countries. Economists warn this could worsen the nation’s already fragile economy and intensify unrest.

Georgetown University professor Ken Opalo cautioned that African countries accepting such deals may be setting dangerous precedents. “It’s foolhardy to expect credible commitments from the White House under such transactional arrangements,” he said.

As of now, the terms of the deportation agreement between the U.S. and Eswatini remain classified. The government has not clarified whether additional deportees are expected—but for many in Eswatini, the damage is already done.