Audio By Carbonatix
Eswatini received $5.1 million from the U.S. government under a deal to accept third-country nationals deported by the Trump administration, its finance minister said on Tuesday.
Eswatini is among several African nations that agreed to receive third-country deportees as part of President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. Others include South Sudan, Ghana and Rwanda.
The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here.
Details of the agreements have not been disclosed, and Eswatini's government is facing a lawsuit from human rights lawyers who claim the secretive deal was unconstitutional.
Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg confirmed the $5.1 million figure in a text message but declined to give further details, saying the transaction was handled by the prime minister and that he was unaware of it until afterwards.
Reuters has seen an unverified copy of the agreement which both governments have so far declined to comment on.
The document, signed on May 14 in Eswatini's capital Mbabane, said that the U.S. would provide Eswatini with $5.1 million to "build its border and migration management capacity" and that in exchange, Eswatini would accept up to 160 third-country deportees.
"We have no comment on the details of our diplomatic communications with other governments," a U.S. State Department spokesperson said, adding that implementing the Trump administration's immigration policies was a top priority.
The U.S. has sent at least 15 immigrants to Eswatini so far, from countries including Vietnam, Cuba, Laos, Yemen and the Philippines. They are imprisoned there, except for one who was repatriated to Jamaica.
Latest Stories
-
PSG sign World Cup winner Torres from Barcelona
7 minutes -
Odeneho Kwaku Appiah beats former EPA boss Kokofu, to emerge NPP Ashanti chair
11 minutes -
TDC defends statutory mandate, says its authority to develop Tema predates TMA
13 minutes -
Ignatius Kwesi Afrifa elected NPP Western Regional Chairman
16 minutes -
Galamsey will be a key issue for NPP’s 2028 campaign – Annoh-Dompreh
23 minutes -
Makafui Woanyah retains NPP Volta Regional Chairmanship
27 minutes -
Ghana Law Society announces maiden annual Bar conference for September 30
29 minutes -
Abronye DC retains NPP Bono East Regional chairmanship
45 minutes -
NSMQ 2026: Check out the 147 schools battling in 49 preliminary contests
49 minutes -
NPP rebuilding to reclaim parliamentary seats lost in 2024 – Annoh-Dompreh
1 hour -
GoldBod has not made GH₵1.7bn loss – Prof Ebo Turkson
1 hour -
Legal vacation trials involving politicians raise fair play concerns – Baffour Awuah
1 hour -
‘It should have been negotiated’ – Dafeamekpor on lawyers’ dispute with CJ over vacation hearings
2 hours -
Ablakwa announces special bonus for passport staff after GSS ranks service among least corrupt institutions
2 hours -
Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel will deepen community engagement as it marks 15 years – General Manager
2 hours