Eswatini repatriates two migrants deported from US
Several other deportees have also requested voluntary repatriation to "reunite with their families".
Eswatini has returned two deportees from the United States, according to a statement released on Tuesday. The men, originating from Mauritania and the Democratic Republic of Congo, were among the 30 migrants accepted by the African kingdom since July last year, as part of a $5 million agreement with Washington.
The Mauritanian national, who arrived in July, opted for voluntary repatriation to reunite with his family, as stated by acting government spokeswoman Thabile Mdluli. He left the country on Saturday. Similarly, the Congolese national, who arrived in March, returned home on Sunday, according to Mdluli.
Several other deportees have also chosen voluntary repatriation for the same reason, the government added, noting they are working with relevant authorities to facilitate these requests. "These repatriations are part of the ongoing arrangements concerning Third Country Nationals temporarily residing in the Kingdom," the government declared.
Eswatini is among several African nations that have signed deals to accept migrants deported under US President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. It received approximately $5.1 million from the United States to accommodate 160 deportees, which was aimed at enhancing its border and migration management capabilities.
Two other deportees, a Jamaican and a Cambodian, were previously repatriated from the kingdom, with several others currently held in a high-security prison without charge. Eswatini maintains the deportees are only in the country temporarily, expecting them to be returned to their respective countries of origin. The southern African kingdom, known as Africa's last absolute monarchy, is often criticized for its poor human rights record.
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