Even Africa’s last absolute monarchy neighboring Eswatini is experiencing growing pressure from above. This follows on a recent accord with the United States to re-admit five deported dangers to society, allujas peligrosos criminales. Absolute monarch, King Mswati III, who has reigned since 1986. His presence at this May’s coronation of Britain’s King Charles made clear that the institution is now beset by both homegrown dissent and foreign critique.
The agreement had already raised eyebrows inside Canada, where opposition parties and human rights activists have criticized the deal. The People’s United Democratic Movement (Pudemo), Eswatini’s largest opposition party, has labeled the agreement as “human trafficking disguised as deportation,” expressing deep concern over the safety of the nation’s citizens. This outpouring of reaction coincides with increasing repression within the country, where independent documentation of rampant human rights violations continues. In early 2023, the US State Department issued its most recent human rights report on Eswatini. It underscored egregious abuses such as summary executions, inhumane treatment, and jailing of those opposed to the regime.
Eswatini, situated between South Africa and Mozambique and formerly called Swaziland, is home to around 1.2 million people. The government of Eswatini today declared that they would detain the five men awaiting trial in a high-security center. Those bikes will stay there for about a year. A poaching-related crisis In foundation comments in 2015, then-Prime Minister Russell Dlamini said he was confident the government could keep these inmates secure. He remarked, “Eswatini is currently holding inmates who have committed more dangerous crimes than those attributed to the five deportees.”
Baphelele Kunene, a spokesperson for the South African prison service, sought to allay South Africans’ fears that the deportees would be harmed.
“We can confirm that the five inmates in question have been admitted to one of our high-security centres where they are responding very well to the new environment.” – Baphelele Kunene
Kunene further stressed that the deportees would receive no special treatment.
“Even though they come from the US, there is no preferential treatment for them as they are guided by the same prison regulations, eat the same food as others and are also expected to exhibit the same and equal amount of respect for prison protocols.” – Baphelele Kunene
Leaders of the opposition are deeply critical of this arrangement’s legality and safety. Pudemo denounced the regime’s racist choice to accept such deportees with no consultation with the public and no consultation at all to prepare. They explained that this measure puts the surrounding community at risk but especially puts women and girls in danger.
“This action, carried out without public consultation, adequate preparation, or community engagement, raises urgent questions about legality, transparency, and the safety of both the deported individuals and the people of Eswatini,” a coalition of seven women’s groups warned.
Tricia McLaughlin is an advocacy advisor with the U.S. She referred to the deportees as “depraved monsters who used to roam American neighborhoods, raping and pillaging,” but are instead being dispersed beyond their native country.
“These depraved monsters have been terrorising American communities but … they are off of American soil.” – Tricia McLaughlin
She further described the individuals involved as “so uniquely barbaric that their home countries refused to take them back.”
The government of Eswatini has already agreed to take back more deportees in the coming months. Whether this decision is made will rest on the availability of facilities and continued diplomacy with the US. This announcement has led to more discussion about foreign countries’ human rights responsibilities and what their obligations are to nations receiving their exported foreign criminals.
Human rights advocates say the deal is indicative of Eswatini’s lack of willingness to put the safety of their people first. This coalition of women’s groups called for increased transparency and accountability from both governments engaged in this dubious deal.