US President Donald Trump is deporting migrants to Uganda, Eswatini, South Sudan and Rwanda. But what do the deals he has struck with these countries mean for the deportees and Africans themselves.

Kampala

African countries including Eswatini, South Sudan, Uganda, and Rwanda have entered into agreements with the United States to accept deported migrants, some of whom have no prior connection to these nations. The deals involve financial support, investment promises, and, in some cases, the lifting of sanctions in exchange for hosting deportees. 

While proponents argue that migrants can bring skills and global connections that may benefit local economies, critics highlight the strain on already limited resources and question the transparency and ethics of the arrangements. The agreements have sparked protests and debate within the host countries, as communities grapple with balancing humanitarian responsibilities and domestic challenges.

Africa faces new migration shifts under U.S. deportation deals

They were building their lives far from home, but now their American dream has turned into a nightmare. The Trump administration is deporting migrants to countries they've never known. Imagine, someone from Vietnam landing in Eswatini for the first time as a deportee. The Kingdom of Eswatini, South Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda have signed controversial agreements with the U.S. to accept some of the deportees. Are these deals a burden or an opportunity? The world is just one village, and so people are free to crisscross. As long as they are not criminals, they are not bringing bad images, bad actions, they are free to move around. Welcome to the flip side. Rwanda has agreed to take up to 250 deportees from the U.S., promising housing, health care and job training. Neighboring Uganda says it will accept selected migrants, no minors, no criminal records and mostly African nationals. In July, South Sudan welcomed eight migrants from countries including Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar and Vietnam. South of the continent, Eswatini took in five deportees, labeled criminal illegal aliens by the U.S. In exchange, Washington has promised financial support, lifting of sanctions in the case of South Sudan, investment pledges and closer diplomatic ties. The move sparked rare protests and concerns over transparency and human rights within Eswatini. On the ground, communities from these four African nations are already struggling with limited jobs, housing and social services. Despite Africa's long history of opening doors to those in need, many are questioning whether they can afford to host more newcomers. I don't know which opportunities these people are coming with, and I don't know why they choose Uganda, because Ugandans already are competing for the available resources, which are not enough. We have many slums coming up, there is a lot of scarcity when it comes to the opportunities and the resources of the country. Mind you, Uganda currently hosts nearly two million refugees amid UN funding cuts. So are these countries deciding for themselves or are they buckling under Trump's assertive foreign policy agenda? No, they are trying exactly to please the United States. Their concerns are tariffs, the United States is basically exporting its problem to Africa. I think it is ethically and morally really problematic. Supporters of the deportation agreements argue there's another side to the story. Deportees arrive with language skills, overseas experience or global connections. For countries like Eswatini, South Sudan, Rwanda and Uganda, this could translate into new businesses, innovative ideas and even stronger diaspora links. There are opportunities with migration, there are also challenges, but our aim is to manage the challenges so that we get the best out of them. And so now I don't know if it is even time for us to talk about opportunities where they are going to, because that's already a step that we need to manage as well. But the policy remains tricky. Critics say these bilateral deals risk portraying Africa as a dumping ground for unwanted migrants, even though historically African communities have absorbed millions of refugees from neighbouring conflicts, often transforming crises into opportunities for growth and resilience. The world is just one village and so people are free to crisscross. As long as they are not criminals, they are not bringing bad images, bad actions, they are free to move around. After all, how many Ugandans are beyond borders? So many. And so let's treat each other as one people. As US deportation flights land in sub-Saharan Africa, will the migrants be marginalised or will they become potential assets for Africa's future? In the end, the real question may not be whether these Trump migrant deals are good or bad, but how the host nations choose to turn them into opportunities. And that's the flip side.

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