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Ten third-country nationals deported from the United States have been repatriated from Eswatini to their countries of origin since September 2025, according to details shared by Daily Maverick.
Disputed Transit Routes and Border Security Claims
While Eswatini officials acknowledge that the repatriated individuals likely transited through South Africa, both nations have pushed back hard against reports alleging clandestine movements. Eswatini government acting spokesperson Thabile Mdluli told Daily Maverick that authorities deliberately refrained from naming specific transit countries to preserve channels for future repatriations. Those statements followed local media reports originating from Swaziland News claiming that Eswatini authorities were secretly releasing US deportees at night through informal border crossings into South Africa.
South Africa’s Border Management Authority (BMA) rejected those allegations outright. In an official statement, the BMA maintained that land ports of entry shared with Eswatini remain fully secured with strict access controls. According to the BMA, anyone moving through South African airports in transit remains within international transfer areas without legally entering the republic, making any attempt to bypass formal ports subject to immediate enforcement action.
Additional reporting from TimesLIVE and IOL highlighted that the underlying bilateral agreement involves Eswatini accepting up to 160 third-country nationals deported from the US in exchange for $5.1m (R85.18m) in funding. The arrangement involves individuals from nations such as Vietnam, Cuba, Laos, Yemen, the Philippines, Tanzania, Sudan, and Somalia. While some deportees carry severe criminal convictions for offenses including murder and child rape, Mdluli noted that not all 31 individuals currently processed under the agreement possess criminal records.
Legal Challenges and Human Rights Condemnation
The pact has triggered fierce pushback from civil society organizations and international human rights advocates.
Further compounding regional tensions, the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation issued a statement in August 2025 expressing deep concern regarding the profiles of the deportees and potential risks to national security given South Africa’s close geographical proximity to Eswatini.
Current Status of Remaining Deportees
With 10 individuals repatriated – one each to Jamaica, Cambodia, Mauritania, Somalia, Cameroon, Yemen, Belize and Laos and two to the Democratic Republic of Congo – another 21 third-country nationals remain in Eswatini awaiting repatriation. Mdluli explained that logistical complexities, including diplomatic engagements with receiving states and transit coordination, account for the ongoing timeline. As legal battles continue, the future of the remaining deportees hangs in the balance amid intense scrutiny over regional sovereignty and international migration pacts.
