China tells citizens to leave Eswatini over security risks
China's foreign ministry has told its citizens to leave Eswatini as soon as possible, citing security risks in the southern African kingdom. The advisory also warned of cyber fraud and criminal activity linked to gambling, but did not provide further details. It suggested that Chinese nationals who need to relocate should consider nearby South Africa as a relatively safer option.
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The warning comes after reports that 40 Chinese nationals have been in detention in Eswatini since last month. According to the supporting report, they were first arrested in March during raids on alleged illegal online gambling centres in Mbabane and surrounding areas, along with dozens of other foreign nationals. The same report said the group was later released on the orders of the High Court, before being re-arrested while trying to leave the country.
Lawyers for the detained men were reported to have written to the attorney general and the home affairs ministry, saying their clients had pleaded guilty to immigration-related offences and paid fines imposed by the courts. They argued that the re-arrest was unlawful. The advisory from Beijing said anyone who insists on travelling to or staying in Eswatini faces extremely high security risks, and that the timeliness of assistance may be affected.
The move adds a diplomatic dimension to a case already shaped by law enforcement action and cross-border politics. Eswatini is one of only 12 countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory. That makes the kingdom a sensitive point in Beijing's long-running effort to persuade countries to sever ties with Taipei.
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The timing is also notable because Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te visited Eswatini in May, after an earlier planned trip in April was cancelled following what Taiwan described as pressure on nearby countries to revoke overflight permits. Beijing criticised that visit, while Taiwan said the trip marked the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III's accession. The sequence of events underlines how even a relatively small number of diplomatic partners can become part of a wider contest between Beijing and Taipei.
It is not clear how many Chinese citizens live or work in Eswatini, and the authorities have not publicly set out the full basis for the travel warning. What remains to be seen is whether the advisory leads to further departures, any response from Eswatini, or additional diplomatic friction. The situation will also be watched for any developments in the detention case and for signs of whether the dispute affects broader ties between China and Eswatini.
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