Latest news with #emaSwati
IOL News
16 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Hardened US criminals deported to eSwatini 'might end up on Mzansi shores'
The United States sent five men it describes as 'barbaric' criminals to the neighbouring Kingdom of eSwatini. Image: X The decision by the United States President Donald Trump's administration to send five dangerous, hardened criminals to the neighbouring Kingdom of eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) took citizens by surprise and shock. IOL reported earlier this week that the move has also sparked outrage in the small landlocked nation, and fears abound that the criminals may end up in South Africa. The Trump administration announced over a week ago that it would be sending the men who are illegal immigrants from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen and Cuba convicted of child rape, murder, burglary, and being gang members and whose countries refuse to take them back. King Mswati III Image: Ludovic Marin, AFP Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Speaking to IOL, Bheki Makhubu, editor of the monthly news magazine The Nation, said people of eSwatini feel betrayed. 'Essentially, emaSwati feel they were betrayed by the leadership of eSwatini. This move came as a complete surprise and seems to have been arranged and known by only a select few people. This deal feels like an invasion of our country by the US. We feel our leaders have sold our country to Trump behind our backs,' he said. 'This country is nobody's personal property and therefore we're upset and most importantly, afraid. There's a fear that if this is allowed to continue, and it looks like more prisoners are coming, one day we will wake up and find that we've been annexed by another country behind our backs.' Makhubu added that his understanding is that these dangerous criminals are set to spend only a year here in eSwatini. 'If, as we are told, they are not wanted in their own countries, what will happen to them? Our economy is very small, I doubt they'll want to stick around once free. The next best place to go is South Africa. 'Remember, South Africa is the gateway to the rest of the world and the economy is large enough for them to try and make a living there. So they could also seek to make your country home,' said Makhubu. Bheki Makhubu, editor of the eSwatini monthly news magazine The Nation spoke to IOL Image: Supplied Last week, IOL reported that the Kingdom of eSwatini has become the focus of regional scrutiny following the arrival of the five foreign nationals deported from the United States and transferred to its correctional system — individuals convicted of serious crimes, including murder and child rape. Held in isolated prison units, these inmates — citizens of Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Laos, and Yemen — were reportedly rejected by their home countries, reportedly prompting the US Department of Homeland Security to describe these offenders in harsh terms. The eSwatini government confirmed the transfer in a statement released by spokesperson Thabile Mdluli: 'Indeed, five inmates are currently housed in our correctional facilities in isolated units, where similar offenders are kept. The government acknowledges the widespread concern regarding the deportation of third-country prisoners from the US into eSwatini.' When reached for further comments, Mdluli revealed that the government could accommodate additional deportees beyond the initial five, depending on further discussions and available capacity. Officials confirmed there were no set timelines for repatriating the deported prisoners, as the process depended on cooperation with their countries of origin. IOL News
IOL News
3 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Outrage erupts over U. S. deportation of violent criminals to eSwatini
The government has denied the involvement of King Mswati in the deportation of hardened criminals from the U.S. to South Africa's neighbour. Image: Supplied/Eswatini Government U.S. President Donald Trump's administration's decision to send five dangerous hardened criminals to eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) has sparked outrage in the neighbouring country and fears that they may end up in South Africa. The Trump administration announced over a week ago that it would be sending the men who are illegal immigrants from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen and Cuba convicted of child rape, murder, burglary, and being gang members and whose countries refuse to take them back. This week, the eSwatini Women's Movement has raised concerns about whether the five individuals informed of their removal and given access to consular support from their home countries as this is a fundamental right of anyone detained or deported across international borders. It demanded to know who within the eSwatini government authorised the acceptance of these individuals and the legal basis and if they were detained in line with a valid detention warrant or a certificate of detention as prescribed by the Immigration Act. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ "If there is no such legal basis, under what authority are they currently being held? Any alternative basis for detention may contravene the Correctional Services Act No. 13 of 2017 and risks undermining the rule of law in eSwatini," the movement said. In addition, it wants to know how much has been paid to the government of eSwatini to support the stay of the five deported individuals and the plan after the conclusion of their sentences. The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), which mobilises exiled emaSwati, has urged the country's citizens at home and in the diaspora to fight what it described as a shameful arrangement. The SSN said emaSwati must organise, mobilise and protest against the decision and make it clear to their government that their country is not for sale nor is it an American prison. According to the network, the U.S. homeland security department has stated that the convicted criminals must be removed so that they can never hurt another American victim, which by implication means they must now hurt emaSwati. "This is a deliberate act of collusion by two corrupt governments to dump America's most violent criminals in one of the world's poorest nations. And the (King) Mswati-led Tinkhundla (eSwatini local government administrative division) regime quietly agreed without consulting the nation or informing its own rubberstamp Parliament," the SSN said. It called on emaSwati to demand answers on whether this is a paid-for deal or a political favour, the terms and conditions. "This is an act of betrayal and is proof once again that the Tinkhundla regime does not prioritise the safety and wellbeing of the Swazi people. It has not only auctioned off national sovereignty but it has turned Swaziland into a dumping ground for foreign governments looking to offload hardened criminals," the network complained. Other organisations – the Swaziland Litigation Centre, the Swaziland Rural Women's Assembly and the Southern Africa Litigation Centre – said in a 2024 report on human rights practices in eSwatini, the U.S. noted that prisons were overcrowded, constituting inhumane treatment and that there were reports of torture. They are demanding that the eSwatini government commit to not accepting inmates from third countries. "The eSwatini Commission on Human Rights and Public Administration and international bodies, as official visitors under section 122 of the Correctional Services Act, visit the individuals to establish the facts surrounding their detention and their detention conditions. "The international bodies should include the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, which is currently conducting an official visit in eSwatini, and the International Committee of the Red Cross in Pretoria," the organisations demanded. Additionally, they want the government to clarify the legal and factual basis on which the five individuals were accepted into eSwatini and for their countries' consulates urgently arrange for consular services to ensure that they obtain legal representation. The eSwatini government has denied King Mswati's involvement in the prisoners' deportation while the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa did not respond to questions on Saturday.
The Citizen
19-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
US sends child rapist and violent offenders to Eswatini: Should SA be worried?
US sends child rapist and violent offenders to Eswatini: Should SA be worried? The US this week deported five hardened criminals to Eswatini under a 'safe third-country deportation' policy, a decision that has sparked significant concern within international diplomatic circles. The five men, from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Cuba and Yemen, are incarcerated for serious crimes ranging from child rape to murder, battery of a police officer and grand theft auto. Tricia McLaughlin, US assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, posted on X, describing the men as 'so uniquely barbaric that their home countries refused to take them back'. NEW: a safe third country deportation flight to Eswatini in Southern Africa has landed— This flight took individuals so uniquely barbaric that their home countries refused to take them back. These depraved monsters have been terrorizing American communities but thanks to @POTUS… — Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) July 16, 2025 Eswatini has confirmed that the men have arrived in the country and that they are being kept at correctional facilities. 'Government has, however, acknowledged the security concerns of emaSwati, further confirming that indeed, the five prisoners are in the country and are housed in correctional facilities within isolated units, 'where similar offenders are kept',' the Eswatini government posted on X. Government has assured emaSwati that the arrival of five third-country deportees from the United States of America poses no security threat to the Nation. — Eswatini Government (@EswatiniGovern1) July 16, 2025 Caxton Local Media approached Dr Sonja Theron, a lecturer in security studies at the Department of Political Sciences at the University of Pretoria, to provide context and assess the possible impact of the deportation on South Africa. What is a safe third-country deportation? Theron explains that a safe third-country deportation refers to the practice of a deporting country, in this case the US, sending a deportee to a 'third' country instead of their country of citizenship. 'This usually occurs either when the country of citizenship refuses to co-operate with the deportation of the citizen, or when the country of citizenship is not safe for the deportee to return to. 'The word 'safe' is meant to indicate that the 'third country' is safe for the deportee, usually meaning that the deportee will not be killed, face torture or encounter other grave human rights violations,' says Theron. Could Eswatini say no? Theron says that, in principle, Eswatini had a choice in accepting the men as no country can be forced to take in deportees. 'However, the power dynamics between a country like the US and Eswatini are important to consider. The US holds much more bargaining power and can compel a country to accept deportees using economic and political incentives or threats.' She says messaging from the Nigerian government has suggested that the US has been pressuring a variety of African countries to accept deportees, using this strategy. Why would Eswatini agree to the deportation? According to Theron, it is likely that a bargain was struck between Eswatini and the US. 'This could involve promises of reduced tariffs or threatening Eswatini with increased tariffs, promises to cut or increase aid, or any number of political and economic incentives. Unfortunately, in this case, the details of the deal have not been released.' Is this a security threat for South Africa? Several South African towns and communities, including Barberton, Mkhondo and Pongola, closely border Eswatini. This raises the question of whether South Africans should be worried about the deportation. Theron says relative to the many security threats faced by South Africa, this is not significant enough to warrant panic or widespread fear. However, if this becomes a pattern, with massive numbers of deportees being sent to Eswatini, it would require more attention. 'What is more concerning is that this is further evidence of the current US administration's trend towards intimidation rather than co-operation when dealing with the African continent. African states need to ensure they maintain their agency when working with the US.' Is safe third-country deportation a common practice? According to Theron, this kind of deportation is rare. 'Only a handful of countries have practised or tried to practise this, and it almost always comes hand in hand with controversy.' She says other notable examples include the UK's scheme to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, which was cancelled, and Australia's practice of housing asylum seekers in offshore detention facilities. How is this kind of deportation viewed in the international relations and law realm? Theron explains that international law primarily deals with this in the context of asylum seekers (which is different from the Eswatini case). 'In this situation, 'refoulement', which entails returning a refugee to a country where they could be killed or persecuted, is prohibited. Therefore, as long as the 'third country' is considered safe, it is legal. Safety, however, is relative and legally open to interpretation.' She says the deportation of prisoners, as in the case in Eswatini, is mostly a bilateral agreement that is governed by the laws of the two countries involved. 'Both cases are generally frowned upon and generate criticism for a variety of reasons. In practice, safe third-country deportation of asylum seekers often results in refugees being held in poor, often inhumane, conditions for extended periods (as seen in the controversy around Australia's offshore immigration facilities).' She says in the case of the deportation of prisoners, both the possibility of human rights violations of the prisoners and the impact on the receiving country have raised concerns. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
