Amnesty International has called for the immediate release of individuals arbitrarily detained under the United States (US)-eSwatini arrangement.

The non-governmental organisation highlights serious human rights issues such as arbitrary detention, restricted access to legal representation, denial of due process, and risks of refoulement.

It has documented these consequences for nearly a year, noting that eleven people recently transferred by the US arrived in eSwatini on July 8, marking the fourth transfer and totalling 30 individuals sent to the country.

Amnesty International has heavily condemned this ongoing deportation scheme, which recently saw an additional 11 individuals transferred to eSwatini. The rights organization has demanded that both Eswatini and U.S. authorities halt these unlawful transfers and dismantle what they describe as a “mass detention and deportation machine”.

The government of eSwatini, which received approximately $5 million from the US to accept up to 160 deportees, has stated it intends to return these detainees to their countries of origin

–ChannelAfrica–