US paid Eswatini millions to accept deportees

Eswatini, for the first time on record, confirmed on November 18 that it received $5.1 million from the United States in exchange for accepting third-country deportees.

According to Africa News via Reuters, details of the agreement have not yet been disclosed. However, the government is already facing court action from human rights lawyers who argue that the deal with US President Donald Trump’s administration is unconstitutional.

Not only Eswatini, but many African nations have agreed to receive third-country deportees as part of Trump’s crackdown on immigration.

Rwanda also finalised an agreement as part of the US immigration policy on August 4, and agreed to see up to 250 migrants entering the country.

As part of the deal with the US, Rwanda only wanted to accept migrants who had served their prison sentences or had no outstanding criminal cases. However, there was a strict rule which stated that the country would not accept those who were child sex offenders.

Although supporters view the US–Rwanda deal as helpful for global migration management, rights organisations have criticised both the Rwandan and Eswatini agreements, citing a lack of transparency and inadequate human-rights safeguards.

Eswatini’s finance minister said the funds provided under the Eswatini-US–US agreement were transferred into the account of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA).

Yet, he added that the NDMA could not use the funds because they had not yet been formally allocated by the government, and the payment still needed to be regularised.

US officials commented that over 15 people have now been sent to Eswatini under the agreement, with an expected 160 more to come.

Africa News via Reuters, Maghrebi.org