The South African Kingdom of Eswatini received $5.1 million from the Washington administration for accepting migrants deported from the United States. This was announced in parliament by the kingdom’s Finance Minister Neil Ryckenberg.
According to the minister, the government received $5.1 million in exchange for accepting migrants deported under “third country agreements” with the United States.
Rykenberg noted that transparency issues in this process are being discussed in the government.
According to local media reports, Eswatini has already accepted both at least 15 people have been deported from the US.
The individuals are said to be held in strict isolation from other prisoners at the Matsabha maximum security prison in the capital Mbabane. They will eventually be returned to their home countries.
Countries such as Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda have also previously accepted migrants deported from the United States under “third-country agreements” used by US President Donald Trump’s administration in Africa and Latin America.
Migrant rights activists have criticized the practice, saying it violates international law, jeopardizes the safety of asylum seekers and involves the transfer of people to countries with low levels of protection. human rights.