Eswatini: Eswatini Repatriation of U.S. Deportees Raises Concerns

What the report says

Eswatini is under scrutiny after reports that it has sent back 10 of the 31 people deported to the country from the United States since 2025, with speculation that some may have moved on through South Africa. The account, carried by Daily Maverick and distributed via AllAfrica, says the returnees included some people with criminal records, but both Eswatini and South Africa have denied claims that deportees were secretly taken across the border at night or through informal crossings.

According to the reporting, Eswatini officials said the 10 people were likely repatriated to third countries, although the government declined to name the transit countries, saying it may need that information for future repatriations. Acting government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli said the authorities were withholding the transit details. The article also notes that some of the more sensational claims appear to have originated from an online outlet, which the report describes as frequently publishing similar stories.

Eswatini’s government later said the reports were misleading and could create unnecessary concern in neighbouring countries. It said the 10 third-country nationals were repatriated between September 2025 and October 2026 to their countries of origin. The issue matters because it touches on migration management, regional border controls and diplomatic sensitivities in southern Africa. More broadly, repatriation and transit of deportees often draw scrutiny when governments do not publicly identify routes or receiving countries.