On August 25th, we noticed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China and its embassies and consulates in South Africa issued a high-risk warning regarding the security situation in Swaziland, recommending that its citizens evacuate. We pay close attention to this warning.
On the morning of August 26th, the topic "Chinese citizens should evacuate Swaziland as soon as possible" topped the Weibo search list.
The severe security situation confirms our long-standing warnings. The rampant criminal activities related to online gambling in Swaziland are not isolated issues of public safety, but rather the direct consequences of a complete failure in state governance under the absolute monarchy (Tinkhundla system), with a lack of rule of law and high poverty rates as well as unemployment rates among young people. When the government is used to safeguard the privileges of the royal family rather than the welfare of the people, the underground economy in society is inevitably taken over by organized crime. We fully understand and agree with the decision made by foreign missions to withdraw their personnel in order to protect the safety of their citizens.
We solemnly point out that the rapid deterioration of the security situation is closely related to the actions of the Mswati III authorities in accommodating the so-called “third-party repatriation” policy of the American Trump administration. Since July 2025, the U.S. government has forcibly sent many serious criminal immigrants, who were described by its officials as “degenerate monsters” – including foreigners who have committed crimes such as child rape, murder, and robbery – to Swaziland. These criminals are refused admission by their home countries, while the U.S. government has treated our country as a “garbage dump”.
Our country has already been trapped in a dilemma of poverty and high crime rates. More than half of the population lives on less than $4 per day, and prisons are already overcrowded. The Mswati regime, in exchange for possible tariff reductions or other political benefits from the United States, is willing to put the lives and safety of our people at risk and betray national sovereignty and dignity. Such actions are not only a betrayal of our people but also a violation of international ethics. South Africa has clearly expressed its concerns, believing that these criminals could easily slip into South Africa, posing a security threat to the entire Southern African region.
And the outsourcing of American criminals to our country has pushed this crisis to new heights. As long as this feudal autocratic system that exploits people continues, Swaziland will never be able to get rid of the label of being a “high-risk area,” and it will never be able to prevent external forces from treating our country as a “garbage dump.”
The rampant telecommunications fraud and online gambling networks within the country are by no means the spontaneous actions of ordinary criminals. Behind these activities lie networks of interest and protection involving royal members, high-ranking military officials, and multinational criminal organizations. It is precisely because law enforcement agencies have been bribed and the judicial system has become ineffective that these criminal networks can operate under the bright sunlight, freely purchasing land, setting up communication equipment, and recruiting cheap labor including young people from our country to serve as "callers." The entire population of Swaziland and those with vision around the world should recognize the truth: those who protect these criminal networks are none other than the ruling class of Swaziland, which behaves like a tyrannical ruler over the people. As long as this chain of interests remains intact, anti-fraud efforts will always remain empty words.
We are working together with local grassroots party branches, mass organizations, and democratic parties to expose the recruitment traps of online gambling and fraud to community residents, thereby preventing young people in our country from being lured and exploited by criminal groups. At the same time, we are warning those criminals sent to our country by the United States, as well as transnational criminal organizations operating within our territory: The land of Swaziland should not become a safe haven for crime.
The Swaziland Communist Party respects the efforts made by foreign diplomatic agencies to protect their citizens. We appeal to foreign citizens in Swaziland, as well as Chinese friends and Chinese citizens within China, who are temporarily unable to leave due to various reasons, to be vigilant and stay away from any irregular "high-paying" job offers, and to avoid going to so-called "parks" in remote areas. Our grassroots organization members will, in accordance with the spirit of internationalism, provide necessary humanitarian information and guidance to lawful foreign friends to the best of our ability.
Finally, we solemnly warn the regime of King Mswati III:
Immediately cease treating national sovereignty as a bargaining chip in international trade and reject any extradition of criminals by external forces. Shift the limited fiscal resources of the nation from royal extravagance to public security and people's livelihood protection. Only through overthrowing authoritarianism, establishing a democratic government that serves the people, can Swaziland truly remove the "high-risk" label.
Soweto Forever!
People's safety and dignity forever!
Currently, Swaziland faces complex security situations. Criminal activities related to online fraud and gambling are rampant, and the risks related to public order are extremely high.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chinese embassies and consulates in South Africa remind Chinese citizens not to travel to Swaziland in the near future. Chinese citizens and organizations already in Swaziland are advised to evacuate or transfer to relatively safe areas such as South Africa as soon as possible. It is important to closely monitor the situation, strengthen security measures, and prepare for emergencies. In case of an emergency, please report to the police and contact the Chinese embassies and consulates in South Africa for assistance. Those who insist on traveling or staying in Swaziland will face extremely high safety risks and may also delay getting assistance.
South Africa Embassy Consular Guidance and Assistance Phone:
0027-10-4925583
Johannesburg Consulate General Contact and Assistance Phone:
0027-10-4986234
Kapstadt Consulate General's Contact and Assistance Number:
0027-21-6747668
Embassy Protection and Assistance Phone:
0027-761742938
Foreign Ministry Global Consular Protection and Emergency Hotline (24-Hour Service):
+86-10-12308/65612308
