… Congolese national safely reunited with family
… Cameroonian also departs after Government facilitates voluntary return
… Government pledges to protect dignity, security and national interests
BY MBONGENI NDLELA
MBABANE– Five Third Country Nationals (TCNs) have now successfully returned to their countries of origin in recent weeks, with the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini announcing the voluntary repatriation of two more foreign nationals who had been temporarily accommodated in the country under its bilateral arrangement with the United States of America.
In the latest development, a national of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and another from Cameroon have left Eswatini for their respective home countries after Government facilitated the necessary arrangements for their voluntary return.
For the Congolese national, the journey home has culminated in an emotional family reunion.
According to a Government statement issued on Friday by Acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli, the DRC national departed Eswatini on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, and has since arrived safely in his home country, where he was reunited with his family.
The second TCN, a national of the Republic of Cameroon, departed the Kingdom on Thursday, September 3, 2026, after the conclusion of arrangements facilitated by Government to enable his voluntary return.
The departure of the two brings to five the number of TCNs repatriated to their respective countries in recent weeks.
Government said the development follows the successful repatriation of three other Third Country Nationals whose return to their countries of origin had previously been facilitated.
The latest departures represent another significant step in the handling of the TCN arrangement, which has attracted considerable public attention since it became known that Eswatini was receiving individuals under an existing bilateral arrangement with the United States.
Government has stressed that the individuals were received in the Kingdom temporarily and that their welfare, rights and dignity remain central to the manner in which their stay and eventual departure are handled.
Mdluli said Government remained committed to ensuring that Third Country Nationals were treated with dignity and that their rights and well-being were protected throughout their temporary stay in Eswatini.
The safe return of the Congolese national, particularly his reunion with his family, provides a human dimension to an issue that has largely been discussed in diplomatic and administrative terms.
For the individuals involved, voluntary repatriation means more than simply leaving Eswatini. It represents an opportunity to return to familiar surroundings, families and communities in their countries of origin.
Government’s facilitation of the Cameroon national’s return similarly indicates that arrangements are being made on an individual basis to enable TCNs who are able and willing to return home to do so.
The Kingdom has maintained that while it will honour its international and bilateral obligations, this will be done alongside its responsibility to protect the national interest.
“Government reiterates its commitment to ensuring that the rights, dignity and well-being of Third Country Nationals are respected and protected throughout their temporary stay in the Kingdom,” the statement reads.
At the same time, Government emphasised that the welfare of emaSwati and the protection of the country’s sovereignty remain fundamental considerations.
It said it remained firmly committed to safeguarding the security, sovereignty and interests of the Kingdom and its people.
The Government’s latest statement is also significant because it provides a clearer picture of the gradual repatriation process. Rather than the arrangement being indefinite, the departure of five TCNs in recent weeks demonstrates that pathways are being pursued for individuals to return to their respective countries.
The return process involves coordination and logistical arrangements to ensure that individuals are able to travel safely and reach their destinations.
Government has not indicated in the latest statement whether further repatriations are immediately expected, but assured the nation that information would be released whenever significant developments occur.
“Government will continue to provide the public with relevant updates on further developments in this regard, as and when appropriate,” Mdluli said.
The latest development therefore marks progress in the management of the TCN issue, with Government balancing its bilateral engagement with the United States against its stated responsibility to uphold human dignity, national security and Eswatini’s sovereign interests.
For the Congolese national who has now been reunited with his family, and the Cameroonian who has returned to his country of origin, the latest chapter of their temporary stay in Eswatini has now come to an end.
(Courtesy Pic)
