A Cuban man deported to the African nation of Eswatini earlier this year has begun a hunger strike to protect his detention at a maximum security prison.
Roberto Mosquera del Peral was among five people sent to the African country earlier this month. He is being kept at the prison along with his fellow deportees and ten others removed also in October.
His lawyer, Alma David, told Reuters that his client is "arbitrarily detained and now his life is on the line." She added that the strike began a week ago, on October 15.
The outlet recalled that Mosquera was arrested in Miami and had a criminal history that included convictions for homicide, aggravated assault on a police officer and aggravated battery. His lawyer disputed the charges, saying he was convicted of attempted murder and had finished his sentence.
Lawyers for other detainees told The Associated Press earlier this month that they have been detained without charge and denied access to legal counsel for three months.
Tin Thanh Nguyen, a U.S.-based lawyer who claims to represent two Vietnamese nationals on the flight, said the plane stopped in Puerto Rico, Senegal and Angola before arriving in Eswatini. Overall, the country has agreed to take up to 160 deportees.
Other African countries that are accepting deportees are Ghana, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda. Ghana is the latest one to do so,, with President John Mahama confirming last month that 14 West African nationals deported from the U.S. had arrived in the country.
Moreover, the latest country to reach such a deal is Belize. The details of the deal have not been disclosed, but The Associated Press noted it is likely similar to the one signed with Paraguay, which included a "safe third country" deal in which asylum seekers in the U.S. could seek such protections there.
The Belize government confirmed the deal in a statement but clarified that it "retains an absolute veto over transfers, with restrictions on nationalities, a cap on transferees, and comprehensive security screenings." It also reiterated its "commitment to international law and humanitarian principles while ensuring strong national safeguards."
The State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs highlighted the deal in a social media post, saying it was an "important milestone in ending illegal immigration, shutting down abuse of our nation's asylum system, and reinforcing our shared commitment to tackling challenges in our hemisphere together."
© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
