[CLSTR]
< Back to situations

Monitor this situation.

[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [INTERNATIONAL]

2 clusters · 9 sources · 3 days · First seen · Last updated

Eswatini repatriation of US-transferred nationals

Overview

Under a bilateral arrangement with the United States, Eswatini has facilitated the repatriation of several third-country nationals transferred to the kingdom.

One Laotian citizen, Phone Chomsavanh, was released from the Matsapha Correctional Complex after being held for over 14 months. His lawyer, Tin Thanh Nguyen, stated that Chomsavanh had completed criminal sentences in the United States prior to being flown to Eswatini, where he was held without being charged with a crime. Chomsavanh is being deported to Laos via Johannesburg.

Acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli confirmed that three individuals—nationals from Yemen, Belize, and Laos—have departed the kingdom to return to their home countries. The government noted these departures occurred at different intervals between September 8 and October 4, 2026, and characterized the departures as voluntary repatriations requested by the individuals to reunite with their families.

Entities

Eswatini · Matsapha Correctional Complex · Phone Chomsavanh · Tin Thanh Nguyen · United States

Timeline

  1. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Eswatini repatriates three nationals under US bilateral agreement

    Three nationals from Yemen, Belize, and Laos have voluntarily left Eswatini to return home, following a bilateral arrangement with the United States regarding third-country nationals.

  2. [INTERNATIONAL] 7 sources
    Laotian citizen released from Eswatini prison after U.S. deportation

    A Laotian citizen released from an Eswatini prison after being deported from the U.S. under a third-country deportation program is now en route to Laos.

Sources

amren.com · dtnext.in · news18.com · newsday.com · notiziegeopolitiche.net · times.co.sz · triblive.com · troyrecord.com · wtop.com