JOHANNESBURG – A covert deportation agreement between the United States and the Eswatini government has triggered outrage among opposition parties, who have described the move as “human trafficking disguised as diplomacy.”
Five foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes in the US were flown into the country last month and are currently being held at Matsapha Maximum Security Prison under tight surveillance. The deportees – reportedly from Jamaica, Cuba, Vietnam and Yemen – are said to be in “transit,” though government officials have not explained their final destinations.
The People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) has condemned the agreement, accusing the government of undermining national sovereignty and ignoring the public’s right to transparency and safety. PUDEMO leader Mlungisi Makhanya told SABC News on Sunday that at least one of the deportees, Mosca Roberto, had already served his sentence over 15 years ago and was no longer in prison when he was transferred to Eswatini.
“This is not a country with a king, it is a king with a country,” Makhanya said, warning that the arrangement lacks any form of due process or parliamentary scrutiny. “We are dealing with a secretive agreement where foreign governments can use Eswatini as a dumping ground for their unwanted prisoners.”
The Nation Magazine editor Bheki Makhubu, who also joined the discussion, accused the government of treating citizens with contempt by excluding the public from discussions about such a critical matter. “It’s like they’ve decided that we are too ignorant to be consulted. The arrogance is just staggering,” he said.
Makhubu expressed concerns over the lack of official communication, noting that information is emerging only through whispers and unverified reports. He also raised questions about the welfare of the deportees, revealing that a local human rights lawyer was denied access to one of them despite having instructions from the family to check on his condition.
“The trauma of being detained in a foreign country, unable to receive visitors or speak to legal counsel, is unimaginable,” Makhubu said. “It amounts to abuse.”
There has been no clear answer from the authorities regarding how the deportation was arranged, whether any money changed hands, or if international agencies like the International Organization for Migration are involved in the case.
On Friday, Prime Minister Russell Dlamini confirmed the arrival of the five men, claiming they were only passing through Eswatini. Critics have challenged that claim, noting that one of the deportees is from Jamaica – far closer to the United States than southern Africa.
PUDEMO says it is pursuing legal action and is working with the families of the detainees to demand justice through local courts. The opposition party has also written to the home countries of the deportees and is mobilising grassroots protests, warning that the country risks becoming a regional security threat if such deals continue in secrecy.
Makhanya also questioned what other undisclosed international arrangements may have been signed by the monarchy. He referenced a previous incident in which 500 hectares of land were handed to Taiwan without public knowledge of the terms.
The government, through Acting Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thabile Mdluli, has defended the agreement, citing “strong diplomatic ties” with the US and the countries of origin. In a statement, Mdluli said the men would soon be repatriated and that “Eswatini stands to benefit from the improved bilateral relations.”
Opposition voices remain unconvinced.
“What mutual interest is there in bringing a man from Vietnam or Cuba to Eswatini, only to later send him back?” asked Makhanya. “The people have a right to know.”
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