A Cuban man’s desperate hunger strike in an Eswatini maximum-security prison shines a harsh light on the US “third-country” deportation program, raising profound questions about due process, human rights, and the ethical implications of agreements that see deportees held without charge in nations accused of rights abuses.
The quiet kingdom of Eswatini, a small nation in southern Africa, has become the unexpected focal point of a significant international human rights debate. At the center of this controversy is Roberto Mosquera del Peral, a Cuban man who has launched a hunger strike from within a maximum-security prison, protesting his arbitrary detention. His plight casts a stark spotlight on the Trump administration’s expanding “third-country” deportation program, which has drawn widespread criticism from legal experts and human rights organizations.
Roberto Mosquera: A Protest Against Arbitrary Detention
Roberto Mosquera del Peral was one of five men—from Cuba, Jamaica, Laos, Vietnam, and Yemen—deported to Eswatini in mid-July 2025. His U.S.-based lawyer, Alma David, reported on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, that Mosquera had been on a hunger strike for a week, citing serious concerns for his health. David emphasized that her client is being “arbitrarily detained” and that his “life is on the line,” urging Eswatini Correctional Services to provide immediate updates and ensure medical attention. She also demanded that Mosquera be allowed to meet with his lawyer in Eswatini, as access to legal counsel has been severely restricted.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that Mosquera had been convicted of murder and other charges and was identified as a gang member, having been in the U.S. illegally. However, Mosquera’s lawyers contend that he, along with other deportees, had already completed their criminal sentences in the U.S. Their current detention in Eswatini, without any new charges or a clear legal framework, is deemed illegal by their legal representatives.
The Controversial “Third-Country Program”
The deportation of Mosquera and others is part of a broader Trump administration initiative to remove what it calls “illegal aliens” from American soil. This “third-country” deportation program offers individuals a choice to self-deport or be sent to a country like Eswatini. Since July, the administration has expanded these secretive agreements, sending deportees to at least three other African nations: South Sudan, Rwanda, and Ghana. An agreement also exists with Uganda, though no deportations there have been announced.
International human rights groups have been highly critical of this program. Human Rights Watch, a global watchdog, has revealed through documented evidence that the U.S. is paying millions of dollars to African nations to accept these deportees. For instance, the U.S. reportedly agreed to pay Eswatini $5.1 million to take up to 160 deportees and Rwanda $7.5 million for up to 250, as reported by The Associated Press. These financial incentives raise ethical questions about the nature of these agreements and the potential for countries to overlook human rights standards in exchange for economic benefits.
Eswatini: A Monarchy Under Scrutiny
Eswatini itself is an absolute monarchy ruled by a king who faces accusations of clamping down on human rights. The decision to deport individuals to a country with such a human rights record has exacerbated concerns among advocates. While the Jamaican man among the initial group was repatriated to his home country last month, the others have remained in prison for over three months. Eswatini authorities have indicated that the men will eventually be repatriated but have provided no specific timeframe, suggesting they could be held for up to a year.
The legality of holding these foreign nationals without charge is being challenged within Eswatini. An Eswatini-based lawyer has initiated a case against the government, demanding access to legal counsel for the deportees. Additionally, local civic groups have taken authorities to court to contest the lawfulness of their continued imprisonment, highlighting a growing domestic pushback against these international arrangements. According to Human Rights Watch, the policy of deporting individuals to countries where they face potential human rights violations without due process raises serious international law concerns (Human Rights Watch).
Broader Implications and Future Outlook
The situation in Eswatini is not isolated. U.S. authorities have expressed their intent to deport another individual, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, to Eswatini under the same program, signaling the program’s continued expansion. In October alone, another 10 deportees, including men from Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, Cuba, Chad, Ethiopia, and Congo, were sent to Eswatini and are believed to be held at the same Matsapha Correctional Complex.
Lawyers for the July deportees have voiced deep concern over the conditions of their clients’ detention. They report that the men have not been permitted to meet with an Eswatini lawyer representing them, and phone calls to their U.S.-based attorneys are closely monitored by prison guards. This lack of transparency and restricted access to legal representation severely undermines the principles of due process and fair treatment. The call for the release of Mosquera and the other 13 men underscores the urgent need for both the United States and Eswatini to acknowledge and address the profound human consequences of their deportation agreement, as reported by The Associated Press (The Associated Press).
