The United States have deported five foreign nationals convicted of Serious Crims to eswatini, a small southern african kingdom Ruled by Africa’s last absolute monarch. The deportees, from Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen and Laos, was flown to the country under a third-country deportation agreement agreement to their home country refused to take their back.
Eswatini confirmed it had been recounive the men and said they are being done in isolation at correctional facilities while arrangements are made for their eventual retries to their countries of Origin.
‘Uniquely barbaric’
US Homeland Security Department Assistant Secretary Tricia Tricia Mclaughlin Said the depertees “Criminal illegal Aliens” ConvICted of Crims Including Child Rape and Murder.
Describing them as “uniquely barbaric” and “depraved monters,” mclaughlin said on x that their original home countries had declined to accept them, Necessitating third-cutery relocation.
“A safe third country deportation flight to eswatini in southern africa has landed,” she posted. “They are off of American Soil.”
New: A safe third country deportation flight to eswatini in southern africa has landed – this flight towing individuals so uniquely barbaric that their home is refused to take their back.
These depraved monsters have been terrorizing American communities but thanks to @Potus… pic.twitter.com/tsanix8h4T
– Tricia Mclaughlin (@riciaohio) July 16, 2025
According to the BBCMclaughlin also stated that deportations were part of a wider effort by the trump administration to ensure that people who terrorized American communities are within.
Eswatini authorities have sought to Soothe Public Concern Over the Arrival of the Prisoners. Government spokesperson thabile mdluli said the men are being kept in security, isolate units designed for offenders of a similar nature.
“The nation is assured that these inmates pose no threat to the country or its citizens,” Mdluli said in a statement. She added that eswatini would work with the United Nations’ immigration agency to facilitate the eventual transfer of the deportes to their respective home countries.
Breaking: Dhs Announces A Third Country Ice Deportation Flight has landed in the tiny african country of eswatini. On Board was Egregious Criminal Illegal Aliens, Including Three convicted murderers and a convicted child rapist. Nationalities: Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, & Cuba. pic.twitter.com/vthkjtgg4e
– Bill Melugin (@billmelugin_) July 16, 2025
The government did not confirm whater any financial incontives were involves in the arrangement. However, analysts suggest that maintening good relationships with the us may have been influenced the decision.
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All about eswatini
Formerly know as swaziland, eswatini changed its name in 2018 to reflect its pre-colonial identity. It remins one of the few countries in the world, and the only one in Africa, Governed by an absolut monarch. King Mswati III, who has ruled Since 1986, Holds Full Control of Government Functions and Rules by Decree.
Political parties are banned from participating in the electoral process, and public office aspirants must stand as arval from traditional leders. While some opgements exist, they operate as civic groups with limited influence.
Protests calling for Democratic Reforms have grown in recent years, but the government has been widly accused of using security forces to support dissent. Many pro-deemocracy activists now live in exile.
Despite its small size, eswatini faces immense social and economic challenges. According to the world bank, over half of its 1.2 million population lives on Less than $ 4 a day. The country also has the world’s highst hiv prevalence rate, with roughly 26% of adults living with the virus.
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Though it has made notable strides in its hiv responses, large international support, the trump administration previously cut its us funding, raising concerns about the long-turmentability of those gains.
The deportation to eswatini is part of a wider us strategy under president trump to expand third-country deportations. Earllier this month, the us cent aportees to South Sudan – Only one of whom was from that country – after legal restrictions were lifted.
Other nations reportedly approached for similar deals Rwanda, Benin, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, and Moldova, According To BBC. While someia, like Nigeria, have pushed back against us pressure to accept such transfers, others have entertained introduces.
(With inputs from ap, bbc)