The African Kingdom Where the US Sent 5 Deportees

 CAPE TOWN, July 16 — The United States has deported five immigrants — originally from Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen, and Laos — to Eswatini, a small African country where the king holds absolute power. Eswatini is now holding the men in detention facilities while working to send them back to their home countries. The country recently joined a small list of nations willing to take in deportees from the U.S. as a third-party destination.

Here’s a quick look at Eswatini:

Ruled by an Absolute Monarch

Eswatini is Africa’s only absolute monarchy, meaning King Mswati III has full control over the government. He is not just a symbolic figure — he rules by decree and makes major decisions on his own. Mswati has been in power since 1986, when he took over at the age of 18 following the death of his father, King Sobhuza II.

The 57-year-old king has been heavily criticized for his extravagant lifestyle in a country where poverty is widespread. He reportedly has 11 wives and owns luxury cars, while over half of Eswatini’s 1.2 million citizens live on less than $4 a day, according to the World Bank. His personal wealth is estimated to be between $200 million and $500 million.

No Political Parties Allowed

Political parties were banned in 1973 and still have no official role in Eswatini's politics. Though some exist, they function more like civil society groups. People running for parliament or senate must do so independently, without party backing, and are typically approved by traditional leaders loyal to the king.

Pro-democracy protests have been increasing in recent years, but the government has been accused of using force to suppress dissent. Many opposition figures now live in exile.

Name Change from Swaziland to Eswatini

Formerly known as Swaziland, the country was renamed Eswatini in 2018 after the king decided to restore the nation’s traditional Swazi name. Swaziland was its colonial name under British rule, which ended in 1968.

A Country Hit Hard by HIV

Eswatini has the world’s highest rate of HIV, with about 26% of its adult population living with the virus, according to the UN’s AIDS agency. While the country has made progress in fighting the epidemic, much of that progress has depended on international aid — including past support from the U.S., which was reduced during the Trump administration.

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