Eswatini confirms US paid it R90m to accept 160 dangerous migrants

Eswatini confirms it received about R90 million from the US government to accept deported migrants.

"The government officials in Eswatini said that the money has been allocated to the disaster agency, but not giving any specific details of what exactly this disaster agency does," explains The Africa Report’s Crystal Orderson.

This lack of transparency has prompted civil society organisations to take legal action against the government, demanding clarity on the arrangement.

Human Rights Watch reports that Eswatini has agreed to accept up to 160 migrants deported from the US, some described by American authorities as ‘depraved monsters’ convicted of violent crimes. This arrangement has sparked criticism that the US is using African nations as ‘dumping grounds’ for unwanted migrants.

"Each African country has decided that they're going to do what they need to do to keep the lights on,” says Ordeson, regardless of human rights concerns or regional stability implications.

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