Eswatini in latest buzz as Taiwan’s ally Lai Ching-te lands for talks amid Beijing pressure. King Mswati III’s tiny, strategic kingdom, landlocked in Southern Africa.
The Trump administration has deported over 40 migrants to Eswatini in secretive agreements with at least seven African countries, including recent arrivals from Somalia, Sudan, and Tanzania. The deportations, part of a hard-line immigration policy, have sparked protests and controversy over human rights and diplomatic secrecy.
Eswatini released Pheap Rom from prison and is in the process of repatriating him to Cambodia. The country has received multiple third-country deportees from the US since July, under a deal worth around $5 million. Rights groups criticize the policy for detaining migrants without charges and poor conditions.
Paraguay's president Santiago Peña has visited Taiwan and has reaffirmed diplomatic support, signing cooperation agreements and praising shared democratic values. China has urged Paraguay to sever ties, saying most Paraguayans favour establishing relations with Beijing, and has criticised Paraguayan officials who visit Taipei.
A field trial of the malaria vaccine R21 has reduced infections in Mwavi village, Tanzania, with boosters extending gains. Despite aid cuts, local uptake shows how vaccination can reshape malaria’s impact in high-risk rural communities. WHO approved use in 2023; 2024–25 data indicate sustained declines, even as broader funding risks persist.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te says he has arrived in Eswatini, Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in Africa, despite flight challenges reportedly due to Chinese pressure
China has extended zero-tariff treatment to 20 more African nations, bringing the scheme to 53 of Africa’s 54 countries. Eswatini remains excluded due to its ties with Taiwan. Analysts say gains are limited, but the policy signals Beijing’s openness push and aims to boost China‑Africa trade.
President Donald Trump has met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing for two days of talks over trade, Taiwan, Iran and energy. The leaders have discussed reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Chinas oil purchases from Iran and military assistance; the White House has said Xi pledged not to send Iran military equipment.
Paraguay, a rare South American ally of Taiwan, is hosting a business delegation led by Peña as President Lai Ching‑te welcomes him with military honors. Beijing is intensifying pressure on Taiwan’s diplomatic partners, while Taiwan has sought to project international presence and expand ties.
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.
Taiwanese President Lai has stressed that Taiwan's future is decided by its people, insisting that external forces cannot decide or threaten the island's status. He has pledged to increase defence spending and maintain peace across the Taiwan Strait, amid ongoing tensions with China and US deliberations on arms sales to Taiwan.