China Urges Citizens to Exit Eswatini Amidst Security Concerns

China has issued a stark warning to its citizens residing in or planning to travel to Eswatini, urging them to leave the southern African nation due to “security risks.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed to pervasive cyber fraud and criminal activities linked to gambling as key concerns, though specific details were not provided.

Citizens are advised to relocate to “relatively safer” countries, with neighboring South Africa suggested as an option. This advisory follows reports of 40 Chinese nationals being detained since last month after their arrest during raids on alleged illegal online gambling operations in March. While these individuals were reportedly released by the High Court after pleading guilty to immigration offenses and paying fines, their subsequent re-arrest has raised questions.

The Eswatini government has not yet issued a statement regarding the detentions or the Chinese advisory. The advisory itself warns that those who choose to remain in Eswatini will face “extremely high security risks,” potentially impacting the timeliness of any assistance provided by China.

Eswatini is unique in Africa as one of the few countries maintaining official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway province. Beijing has consistently pressured nations to sever ties with Taipei. In April, Taiwan accused China of attempting to disrupt President Lai Ching-te’s visit to Eswatini by influencing overflight permits. Although an initial trip was canceled, President Lai eventually visited Eswatini in May.

This diplomatic tension is underscored by China’s recent trade policies; earlier this year, China removed tariffs for most African nations, with Eswatini being a notable exception.