Mbabane — Government has confirmed that five convicted criminals deported from the United States are currently being held under tight security at Matsapha Correctional Facility.
The Acting Government Spokesperson, Thabile Mdluli, said the five are housed in isolated units alongside similar offenders, after entering the country as part of a transit arrangement between Eswatini and the US government.
Mdluli stated that the arrival of the deportees followed months of high-level discussions between Washington and Mbabane, which included risk assessments and security evaluations. She said the government is aware of public concerns but assured that the presence of the deportees does not threaten the safety of emaSwati.
The deportees, whose identities have not been disclosed, are expected to remain in the country temporarily before being repatriated to their home countries. Government revealed that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) will oversee the onward transit process.
Eswatini officials cited the country’s longstanding diplomatic relations with the US, stretching back over fifty years, as the basis for cooperating on international deportation matters. According to government, the arrangement aligns with international agreements that Eswatini is party to, ensuring due process and respect for human rights are observed.
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