By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE:The Southern African Litigation Centre(SALC) has confirmed through a press statement, the provision of support for human rights lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi, who filed an urgent application under case No. 1623/25, in the High Court, challenging the Correctional Services’ denial of access to five(5) foreign nationals deported from the United States to Eswatini.

Nhlabatsi is alleged to have received instructions from the foreign nationals’ lawyers based in the United States to represent them but, the Correctional Services Commissioner General Phindile Dlamini allegedly denied him permission to take instructions from his clients who want to challenge their deportation” to the tiny Kingdom.

“The detainees, men from Yemen, Cuba, Jamaica, Vietnam, and Laos, were convicted of felonies in the U.S., served their sentences, and were subsequently deported to Eswatini under a secretive agreement between the U.S. and Eswatini governments. Reports indicate that their countries of origin were not contacted before the transfer, and the full terms of the agreement remain undisclosed to the public or Parliament”, reads the statement in part.

The Southern African Litigation Centre further alleges that, upon arrival, the detainees were “held in an isolated unit at the Matsapha Correctional Complex without charges , trial, or due process” and that, they were denied the right to be visited or consult with their lawyers.

“Mr. Nhlabatsi attempted to visit the detainees but was denied access after presenting his credentials. Correctional officials cited ongoing installation of communication devices and a future “pre-approved list” system based on family contacts, effectively barring immediate legal consultations”, reads the statement in part released by the Southern African Litigation Centre.

Eswatini is currently on the international spotlight for allowing the US to dump dangerous criminals under a secretive agreement, the criminals were previously convicted of murder and rape among other criminal charges.