The government of Eswatini has confirmed receiving a second group of 10 deportees from the United States, despite an ongoing court battle and mounting criticism from human rights groups. Authorities in Mbabane said the individuals have been placed in a “secure facility” and pose no threat to the public. The group arrived as part of a controversial bilateral deal that allows the U.S. to transfer up to 160 foreign nationals to Eswatini in exchange for $5.1 million in funding to strengthen the country’s border and migration systems. Rights organizations, including the Southern African Litigation Centre (SALC) and Human Rights Watch (HRW), have condemned the arrangement as secretive and unconstitutional. They argue that Eswatini’s constitution requires parliamentary approval for such international agreements, which was bypassed in this case.
Eswatini human rights lawyer Mzwandile Masuku said he was “shocked and dismayed” that the government accepted the new arrivals while a lawsuit over the legality of the first batch sent in July is still pending. “We would have expected the government to respect the court process and await its ruling,” he told the BBC. The first group of five deportees included individuals from Jamaica, Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, and Yemen, whom the U.S. Department of Homeland Security described as “depraved criminals.” One has since been repatriated to his home country, while two others are awaiting return.
The latest deportation also reignites questions about Kilmar Ábrego García, a Salvadoran man accused by U.S. authorities of belonging to the MS-13 gang. His name has not been confirmed on the Eswatini list, but he was previously cited in connection to the same program. A U.S. federal court recently ruled that his prosecution could be “vindictive,” ordering further hearings. Eswatini’s acting government spokesperson, Thabile Mdluli, confirmed that the deportees are being held in isolation “separate from the public” until arrangements are made for their repatriation.
The secretive deal has drawn protests in Mbabane and outside the U.S. embassy, with civil society groups calling it a step backward for democracy. Activist Melusi Simelane of SALC described the agreement as “executive overreach” and a sign of “democratic regression” in a country where King Mswati III retains near-absolute power. Neighboring South Africa has also expressed concern about the agreement, fearing the deportees might cross its porous borders. Eswatini officials insist that the individuals are under strict guard and that the arrangement poses no regional security threat. The case challenging the legality of the deal resumes this week in the Mbabane High Court, where civil society groups are demanding that the deportations be halted until the court delivers a final ruling.
