King Mswati III is facing a storm of allegations after reports emerged that he personally approved a secret R10 billion ($500 million) deal with the United States to detain dangerous foreign criminals in Eswatini a move critics warn undermines state and regional security.
According to the New York Times, the agreement was signed by Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini on behalf of the monarch, without consulting Parliament, Cabinet, or even the Attorney General’s Office. As an absolute ruler, Mswati’s word is law, effectively bypassing all oversight.
Documents reviewed by the US paper suggest the deal allowed Eswatini to detain up to 150 high-risk detainees for payments exceeding $10 million. The detainees, deported under former US President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policy, were meant to be held in Eswatini before eventual repatriation.
However, the documents reportedly show that the criminals were expected to remain for extended periods, raising fears of escapes into neighboring Southern African Development Community (SADC) states.
South Africa has already expressed alarm. Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola, through DIRCO spokesperson Chrispin Phiri, warned that the presence of such high-profile detainees so close to South Africa’s borders posed a serious threat to national security and immigration policy.
Eswatini officials have attempted to downplay the controversy, with government spokespersons insisting that “every agreement entered into is done with meticulous care and consideration.”
But critics argue that the King sidelined his Cabinet and Attorney General, personally striking the deal in a manner that not only jeopardizes Eswatini’s sovereignty but also threatens the wider region.
Mswati, long accused of ruling with unchecked power, is now under intense scrutiny as regional leaders demand answers over a deal that many believe compromises SADC’s collective security.
