Capital, port city and political heart of Sierra Leone
Eswatini has been hosting up to 160 migrants deported from the United States under third‑country deals, with 19 detained in a Mbabane prison and others abroad. Detainees report crowded conditions; legal challenges argue the agreement bypasses parliament and violates rights. Sierra Leone and other West African nations have also agreed to accept deportees.
Sierra Leone has signed a Third Country National agreement with the United States to accept up to 300 ECOWAS nationals deported from the US each year, with a maximum of 25 a month. The first group of 25 deportees from Senegal, Ghana, Guinea and Nigeria is expected to arrive on May 20, 2026. The arrangement has drawn criticism over legal basis and treatment of deportees, and it remains unclear what Sierra Leone receives in return.
The Trump administration has broadened restrictions on U.S. funding for overseas organizations that address abortion-related issues, potentially affecting up to $30 billion in aid. The move builds on years of activism by U.S. anti-abortion groups, with Africa receiving the most attention as reports detail increased harassment of reproductive-rights workers and rising fears of unsafe abortions.
ECOWAS members have endorsed the Nigeria–Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline, a 6,800-km conduit linking 13 West African states with potential to export 30 bcm of gas annually. The project aims to diversify energy supplies, boost regional integration and support electricity generation, while weighing security and financing risks as construction eyes 2028 start.