The government of Eswatini has publicly acknowledged receiving a payment exceeding five million dollars from the United States. The funds were part of an arrangement to accept individuals deported from American soil.
According to official statements made in the national parliament, the finance minister confirmed the receipt of $5.1 million. The minister indicated that the payment was linked to accepting U.S. deportees, but noted that details of the agreement were not fully disclosed to the finance ministry during the process.
Reports indicate that the southern African kingdom has accepted a group of individuals under this program. These individuals are currently being held in a high-security facility. Legal representatives for the detainees, along with local civil society organizations, have raised challenges in court regarding the lawfulness of their detention.
The agreement is said to be part of broader U.S. efforts to arrange for the deportation of non-citizens to third countries. The $5.1 million payment was reportedly intended to support border and migration management. However, the minister stated that the money was placed in an account for the national disaster agency, a move he described as procedurally irregular and in need of correction.
It remains unclear which Eswatini officials were directly involved in authorizing the agreement with the United States.