Africa-Press. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged its citizens to leave the Kingdom of Eswatini, located in Southern Africa, due to “security risks.” The ministry pointed to “the prevalence of cyber fraud and criminal activities related to gambling” among its security concerns, without providing further details. It suggested that its citizens relocate as soon as possible to “relatively safer” countries such as neighboring South Africa.
Eswatini is one of twelve countries, and the only one in Africa, that maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory.
On Tuesday, a local news source reported that forty Chinese citizens have been detained since last month after being arrested while attempting to leave the country.
The news outlet stated that they were first arrested—along with dozens of other foreigners—in March during raids targeting alleged illegal online gambling centers in the capital city of Mbabane and surrounding areas.
The news outlet reported that the group’s lawyers contacted the attorney general and the Ministry of Interior, explaining that their clients had admitted guilt in immigration-related offenses and had paid the fines imposed by the courts.
The forty individuals were then released by order of the High Court, and their re-arrest is deemed illegal, according to the lawyers. The Eswatini government has not commented on the matter so far.
In its advisory to citizens, China stated that those who insist on traveling to or residing in the country will face “significant security risks, and the speed of assistance may be affected.” It remains unclear how many Chinese citizens are working or residing in Eswatini.
China has been pressuring countries for years to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan. In April, Taiwan accused Beijing of attempting to obstruct its president Lai Ching-te’s travel to Eswatini by pressuring neighboring countries to revoke flight permits over their territories.
The trip, originally scheduled from April 22 to 26 to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of King Mswati III’s ascension to the throne of Eswatini, was canceled following this development.
Lai ultimately traveled to Eswatini in May, without disclosing how he reached the country, and neither government announced the trip in advance. Following the visit, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Lai became “a subject of international ridicule.”
