Eswatini accepts four more deportees from the United States

Four more men deported from the United States under Washington's scheme to expel undocumented migrants have arrived in the southern African nation of Eswatini, the government and a lawyer said on Thursday.

Eswatini took in 15 men last year as part of US deals with several African nations for them to accept migrants under a third-country deportation programme.

Two of the newly arrived deportees are from Somalia, one from Tanzania and one from Sudan, US-based migration lawyer Alma David, who represents some of the other detainees, told AFP.

The government also confirmed in a statement that it had received the four men and verified their nationalities.

'In perfect health'

The quartet arrived at the maximum-security Matsapha Correctional Centre, outside the capital Mbabane, late Wednesday, an officer said on condition of anonymity.

"They are in perfect health," the officer told AFP. "They are currently being oriented by the social welfare and health departments."

The facility was preparing to receive around 140 more deportees, the official said.

According to a document seen by AFP, Eswatini agreed to take 160 deportees in exchange for funds to build its border and migration management capacity.

Eswatini says it is temporarily holding the deportees

Eswatini confirmed in November that it had received around $5.1 million from the United States to accept the deportees.

Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Rwanda and South Sudan have also accepted US deportees. Cameroon reportedly received 17 African nationals deported from the United States this year.

Eswatini authorities say they are only holding the deportees while arrangements are finalised for their repatriation.