Eswatini has rejected reports that three people deported from the United States were secretly released into South Africa, saying they were instead returned to their countries of origin.
The three were nationals of Yemen, Belize and Laos. They had been transferred to Eswatini under a bilateral arrangement between Mbabane and Washington involving people whom the United States could not directly repatriate.
Acting government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli said the group had left Eswatini and completed the journey home with help from the relevant countries and authorities. Her statement did not provide the dates or routes of the repatriations.
Mdluli said Eswatini had now facilitated the return of 10 third-country nationals since entering the agreement with the United States. The government said it remained committed to protecting the rights, welfare and dignity of those temporarily accommodated in the kingdom while onward arrangements were made.
The denial follows claims that the three had crossed into South Africa without public disclosure. The allegation carried particular weight because Eswatini shares a long, busy border with South Africa and Pretoria previously raised concerns about the regional security and immigration implications of the US-Eswatini arrangement.
Eswatini’s role in regional security also puts the issue under added scrutiny. The kingdom currently chairs the Southern African Development Community organ responsible for politics, defence and security cooperation, a position that requires close coordination with neighbouring states.
Questions surrounding third-country deportations have persisted since the first groups arrived in Eswatini. Government statements have described the country as a temporary transit point while officials seek consent and practical arrangements for each person’s return home. Lawyers and civil-society groups have meanwhile pressed for greater transparency and access to the people being held.
The latest statement resolves the government’s position on the three named nationals, but it leaves open broader questions about how many deportees remain in Eswatini, the timetable for further repatriations and the oversight of the bilateral agreement. Clear disclosure will be important for public confidence in Eswatini and across the region.
Source: Reporting was based on SABC News. Featured image credit: X/@EswatiniHome via SABC News.