International

Eswatini Government Faces Court Challenge For Accepting U.S Deportees

ESWATINI – Human rights lawyers and activists in Eswatini have filed a lawsuit against their government, alleging an unconstitutional agreement with the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Published

6 months ago

August 27, 2025

Kendeno Knowles

The plaintiffs argue that it was unlawful for Eswatini to accept third-country deportees from the United States without parliamentary approval. The case, initially scheduled for a High Court hearing on Friday, has been postponed to September 25 after the government failed to submit response papers, according to the lead applicant who spoke to Reuters outside the court.

In July, the U.S. deported five individuals from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Cuba, and Yemen. All were convicted felons, and Eswatini has reportedly placed them in solitary confinement pending repatriation.

The applicants contend that the agreement violated the law because its terms were never disclosed, parliament never reviewed it, and no independent parties have been allowed to verify the deportees’ conditions.

Eswatini’s Attorney General, however, dismissed the lawsuit, stating via text message that the case “has no legal basis.”

The legal battle raises questions about transparency, human rights, and the extent of international agreements that bypass legislative oversight.