Three Men Deported by US File Case Against Eswatini Over Detention Conditions

What happened

The Guardian reports that three men deported by the US—originating from Cuba, Jamaica, and Yemen—have filed a legal case against Eswatini with the African Union’s human rights commission alleging unlawful detention and violations of their rights. Two of these men, including the individual from Yemen, have been held in Eswatini’s prison for eight months, while the third, from Jamaica, was repatriated in September after initially being detained there.

The central claim remains unconfirmed in the supplied material and should be treated as hearsay until corroborated by another reliable source or a named official. According to lawyers representing the deportees, these men have completed their sentences in the US and have not committed crimes in Eswatini. The legal complaint was filed with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), which monitors state compliance with regional rights agreements but lacks enforcement powers. One lawyer noted that detainees continue to suffer from human rights abuses, including restricted legal access and a prolonged hunger strike by one detainee that caused apparent organ failure.

Eswatini’s government spokesperson, Thabile Mdluli, responded by denying that the men are detained or imprisoned, stating they are held in a secure environment while repatriation processes continue. The spokesperson added that the government is committed to respecting the detainees’ rights and dignity, but it remains unclear when the men will be returned to their home countries or elsewhere.

Known from the source

• Three men deported by the US to Eswatini are from Cuba, Jamaica, and Yemen.
• Two men, including the Yemeni, have been detained in Eswatini for eight months; the Jamaican national was repatriated in September.
• These men completed criminal sentences in the US before deportation.
• The men have filed a case alleging unlawful detention and human rights violations with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
• Eswatini denies the men are imprisoned, claiming they are in a secure facility pending repatriation.

What remains unclear

The deportations to Eswatini come amid broader US efforts to conduct mass deportations of immigrants to third countries under the Trump administration. The US has paid Eswatini $5.1 million to accept up to 160 third-country nationals. Other African countries hosting US deportees include Ghana, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda. This system faces criticism for legal and humanitarian issues, illustrated by a recent Eswatini high court decision rejecting a local NGO challenge on constitutional grounds regarding the detention.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verify the exact nature of detention or accommodation status of the Yemeni detainee in Eswatini. Confirm whether the men have been legally charged or convicted of any crimes within Eswatini. Clarify the diplomatic timeline or plans for repatriating the Yemeni detainee specifically.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: The Guardian Yemen. Open the source.