The U.S. deported five convicted criminals, described as "barbaric," to Eswatini, expanding a secretive third-country deportation program. These individuals, citizens of Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen, and Laos, were convicted of crimes including murder and child rape. Eswatini's government hasn't commented on the deportations, sparking concerns from civic groups about the lack of transparency and potential risks to the local population. This follows the deportation of eight men to South Sudan, where their whereabouts remain unknown. The U.S. is actively seeking more such agreements with African nations, though some have resisted.

Prepared by Rachel Morgan and reviewed by editorial team.