By Johnathan Paoli
The South African government has raised serious national security concerns with the Kingdom of Eswatini following confirmation that a group of dangerous criminals from various nationalities was deported from the United States to Eswatini on a special flight.
International Relations and Cooperation Minister Chrispin Phiri confirmed that South Africa has formally communicated its concerns to the government of Eswatini and has requested a high-level diplomatic engagement to discuss the issue further
“Whilst respecting the sovereign decision of the government of Eswatini, the government of the Republic of South Africa is deeply concerned 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,” Phiri said.
The alarm was raised after Eswatini’s acting government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli confirmed the arrival of the group, which includes individuals convicted of serious offences.
Their arrival was further substantiated by an announcement from the United States Department of Homeland Security, which stated that the deportees, had been removed from US custody and transported to the Kingdom of Eswatini.
Phiri highlighted that many of the deportees are from countries that have already indicated their unwillingness to receive them.
This raised fears that Eswatini may become a long-term holding ground or unofficial transit hub for such individuals, a scenario with potential cross-border implications.
The government reiterated the importance of prior consultations and information sharing on issues of international deportation that could impact neighbouring states.
Both Eswatini and the US have indicated their intention to work with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to facilitate the deportation process.
According to official reports, the IOM will assist in arranging the return of these individuals to their countries of origin.
However, South Africa remains sceptical about the success of this plan.
Many of the countries have cited a lack of documentation, security concerns or refused to accept criminal deportees.
Phiri added that South Africa would seek clarity on the vetting process applied to the deportees, any security measures being implemented by Eswatini, and whether further deportations of a similar nature are expected in the coming weeks or months.
South Africa has also requested that all stakeholders consult regional bodies such as the Southern African Development Community to ensure that proper protocols are followed when deporting individuals into the region.
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