Eswatini Acknowledges Receiving Millions in Exchange For Taking in US Deportees

Eswatini has confirmed for the first time that it received 5.1 million dollars from the United States in exchange for accepting third-country deportees under a deal struck with former President Donald Trump’s administration.

The agreement, made with Africa’s last absolute monarchy led by King Mswati III, has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups, who accuse the government of violating constitutional and humanitarian principles.

According to Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg, the funds were deposited into the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) account, but the agency has not been permitted to use the money since it was never formally allocated by the government. Officials have stated that the payment still requires formal approval to be regularized.

So far, Washington has deported at least 15 individuals to Eswatini under the agreement, which reportedly allows for as many as 160 arrivals. One person has since been repatriated to Jamaica, while the others remain in detention in Eswatini. The opaque nature of the deal has prompted legal action from lawyers and civil society organizations, who argue that the detentions and the secrecy of the agreement breach Eswatini’s constitutional obligations and international human rights commitments.

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