The government of the Kingdom of Eswatini has confirmed that it is housing five dangerous criminals deported from the USA on Tuesday night.
The government said the convicted criminals are being held in secure facilities, with no room for escape.
The kingdom has only one maximum security prison, which is located at Sidwashini in Mbabane, the capital of Eswatini, almost 30 kilometres away from the border with South Africa on the side of Mpumalanga province.
The assurance comes amid fears that the criminals may exploit the weak border line between Swaziland and South Africa and unleash a reign of terror in the lawless province of Gauteng.
The criminals, originating from Laos, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen, and Ecuador, were deported to Eswatini after their home countries reportedly refused to accept them when approached by U.S. authorities.
According to the Eswatini Observer, a newspaper aligned with the monarchy, the government of Eswatini has assured its citizens that they are safe from the criminals who were convicted in the U.S. for various crimes, including murder, rape, gangsterism, assault, reckless driving, and other serious offences.
Quoting a statement released by the Acting Government Spokesperson, Thabile Mdluli, the newspaper said the deportation followed months of careful engagement between the Eswatini and US Governments, with support from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), ensuring strict safety and risk assessments were followed.
Mdluli reportedly said Eswatini remained committed to upholding international agreements and protecting the safety and rights of its people.
