Human rights lawyers and activists are facing the government of Eswatini through the courts as a result of a secret deal with the Trump administration, under which it was planned that the forcibly removed individuals who are citizens of third countries and were deported from the United States will be sent to Eswatini.
The lawsuit also contains allegations that the agreement lacks any constitutional grounds and the proper approval of the parliament.
First, the hearing that was supposed to take place on Friday at Eswatini’s High Court will be done on September 25 as the government did not file the response papers on time. Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo in his rebuttal, said that the suit was groundless and mere waste of time.
In July, the U.S. deported five prisoners who had been convicted and came from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Cuba, and Yemen and Eswatini received them. The Southern African country is now separating these people into different cells until it is clear that they will be sent back to their countries of origin.
The respondents, with the Eswatini Litigation Centre and Mzwandile Masuku leading the way, maintain that the signing of this pact is illegal because it bypasses the parliament and there is no information about it in the public domain.
Moreover, the question of the health and safety of those deported is raised here, since there are no people who have access to them at the moment.
Eswatini ruled by King Mswati III, an absolute monarchy, has come up with the justification for the deal, over a matter of foreign relations, following good ties with Washington, and also declaring the deportees unthreatening.
Anyway, the government has remained silent on the details of the deal and the condition of those in detention.
The International Organization for Migration has informed the reception of a request from Eswatini for assistance after arrival, but it has not confirmed its commitment to providing support. This issue raises concerns about openness and the observance of constitutional procedures in the kingdom’s dealings with its international partners.
