Eswatini government faces court challenge over men deported by US
Group of NGOs claim deal was unconstitutional and violated the imprisoned mens human rights
August 22, 2025
A group of NGOs is challenging Eswatinis acceptance of five people deported by the US, arguing the deal was unconstitutional and violated the imprisoned mens human rights.
The men from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen and Cuba, who the US said were dangerous criminals, were flown to the small southern African country in July, as the Trump administration attempts to deport millions of migrants and asylum seekers.
The mens imprisonment, at the maximum security Matsapha correctional centre, caused outrage in Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, whose king, Africas last absolute monarch, appoints the prime minister and cabinet.
A US Boeing C-17 used for deportation flights is pictured at an airfield in Texas.
US deports migrants to Eswatini, African country with troubling human rights record
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A group of NGOs and activists filed a legal challenge against the government last week, arguing that the deal, whose terms have been kept private by the government, violated due process and that the prison where the men were being held was 190% over capacity.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/22/court-case-challenging-eswatini-us-immigrant-deportation-deal-postponed