The Eswatini government is facing a legal dispute after reports emerged that it had secretly accepted deportees from the United States under a third-country transfer scheme. Human rights lawyers have filed a case before the High Court, arguing that the arrangement bypassed parliamentary oversight and violated constitutional procedures, Reuters reported.
The deal involved five convicted foreign nationals, originating from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Cuba, and Yemen, who were deported from the U.S. in July and are now being held in solitary confinement while awaiting repatriation. Legal representatives have requested access to the detainees to assess their welfare, but proceedings have been postponed until September 25 following delays in the government’s response, Reuters noted.
Analysts point out that the controversy highlights broader concerns around governance, transparency, and international cooperation in Eswatini. The dispute may also weigh on investor sentiment, as questions around political accountability and legal frameworks could influence perceptions of stability in the kingdom, Reuters indicated.
