Eswatini Court Upholds US Deportee Deal

Eswatini's high court dismissed a legal challenge filed by the Eswatini Litigation Centre against a deal between the government of Eswatini and the United States. The agreement, initiated under the Donald Trump administration, involved Eswatini accepting at least 15 third-country deportees in exchange for $5.1 million. Human rights lawyers argued the deal was unconstitutional due to a lack of parliamentary approval and transparency. The court ruled that the applicants lacked a direct interest in the matter and could not produce a copy of the agreement. Concerns about judicial independence in Eswatini, an absolute monarchy ruled by King Mswati III, were also raised.