The South African government has raised concerns with the Kingdom of Eswatini over the arrival of dangerous criminals to the landlocked country and the impact this could have on South Africa’s national security.

“South Africa has raised concerns with the Kingdom of Eswatini following confirmation by the acting spokesperson of the Government, Mrs Thabile Mdluli, that a group of dangerous criminals of various nationalities landed in Eswatini after being transported from the United States of America on a special flight, with the potential of more criminals of this profile to follow,” the Department of International Relations and Co-operation (Dirco) said.

According to SA News, Dirco stated that the arrival of this group was accompanied by a notification from the United States Department of Homeland Security. The group, consisting of individuals from several countries, includes some who have been convicted of serious offences and crimes and were deported from the United States before arriving in Eswatini.

Countries of origin rejected deportees

Reports indicate that these criminals were deported to Eswatini after attempts to return the men to their countries of origin – Laos, Cuba, Jamaica, Vietnam and Yemen – were rejected.

“Dirco, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of South Africa, noted the aforementioned statement wherein Eswatini and the United States indicated that they would collaborate with the International Organisation for Migration to facilitate the transit of these inmates to their countries of origin.

“Dirco also noted that the countries of origin of these deportees are unlikely to receive them,” the statement read.

Dirco flags national security implications

While respecting the decision of the Government of Eswatini, South Africa expressed deep concern about ‘the profile of these individuals and the potential adverse impact on South Africa’s national security and immigration policy, given the geographical proximity between the two sisterly countries’.

Caxton Network News previously reported on the US deporting these five hardened criminals to Eswatini under a ‘safe third-country deportation’ policy.

The five men were incarcerated for serious crimes ranging from child rape to murder, battery of a police officer and grand theft auto.

Border towns raise questions of risk

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.

Caxton previously approached Dr Sonja Theron, a lecturer in security studies at the department of political sciences at the University of Pretoria. She said that relative to the many security threats facing South Africa, this is not significant enough to warrant panic or widespread fear.

However, if this becomes a pattern, with large numbers of deportees being sent to Eswatini, it would require closer 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.”

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