Eswatini has quietly repatriated Jamaican national Orville Isaac Etoria, deported from the United States under Trump’s strict immigration policies. Etoria was among five foreign nationals sent to the southern African kingdom in July, described by US authorities as “barbaric” criminals.
The group was held in solitary confinement in a maximum-security prison in Mbabane, Eswatini’s administrative capital, drawing criticism from human rights advocates. Etoria departed Mbabane on Saturday and arrived in Jamaica the following day, government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli confirmed to AFP.
Authorities said discussions continue with the remaining detainees, including citizens of Laos, Vietnam, and Cuba, for potential repatriation to their countries. Lawyers for the detainees claim they have been denied access to their clients, raising concerns over due process and transparency.
Activists argue that Eswatini’s acceptance of deportees violated constitutional norms, as the deal lacked public disclosure or parliamentary consultation. Hundreds protested outside the US embassy in Mbabane, expressing outrage over the secrecy and lack of public accountability in the matter.
Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, is landlocked by South Africa and Mozambique and has been ruled by King Mswati III since 1986. The 57-year-old monarch has faced repeated accusations of human rights violations, alongside criticism for his lavish lifestyle amid national poverty.
Observers say the case highlights tension between Eswatini’s opaque governance and international pressures on migration, justice, and human rights.