Govt 'deeply concerned' about impact of deported criminals from US to Eswatini on SA's security
While the nature of Eswatini's agreement with the US is unclear, its government has confirmed that at least five inmates are being held in its prisons, and the expectation is that more could follow.
The move has drawn widespread criticism that the US is using African countries as a dumping ground for foreign nationals it regards as undesirable.
As US President Donald Trump comes down hard on African nations through new trade tariffs, it's believed that Eswatini has agreed to take the prisoners as a way to get into Trump's good graces.
Trump has been on a mission to deport foreign nationals from US prisons since the start of the year, but in the case of those accepted by Eswatini, it's believed their home countries of Jamaica, Laos, Cuba, Yemen and Vietnam did not want to accept them.
The US department of homeland security has indicated that the group deported to Eswatini have been convicted of serious crimes, including child rape and murder.
International relations spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, said the decision could also impact South Africa.
"Whilst respecting the sovereign decision of the government of Eswatini, the government of the Republic of South Africa is deeply concerned about the profile of these individuals and the potential adverse impact on South Africa's national security and immigration policy, given the geographical proximity of the two sisterly countries."
Eswatini government spokesperson, Thabile Mdluli, said the plan was to colloborate with the International Organisation for Migration to facilitate the inmates' return to their native countries.
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