US sends Sh969 million to Equatorial Guinea to expedite deportations
The payment, confirmed by Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was reportedly sent directly to Equatorial Guinea, one of the world's most corrupt regimes.
The United States has transferred $7.5 million (Sh969 million) to Equatorial Guinea to facilitate the return of noncitizen deportees, raising alarm among lawmakers over the use of American taxpayer dollars.
Reports indicate that the funds, drawn from a congressional allocation intended for international refugee crises, mark the first known instance of the money being redirected to expedite deportations rather than support refugee resettlement.
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The payment, confirmed by Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was reportedly sent directly to Equatorial Guinea, one of the world's most corrupt regimes.
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has ruled the oil-rich West African nation for 46 years, while his son, Vice-President Nguema Obiang, has faced multiple convictions abroad for embezzlement and money laundering.
According to AFP, Shaheen, in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday, called the transfer "highly unusual", highlighting Equatorial Guinea's long history of corruption and complicity in human trafficking.
She also pointed out that the amount is larger than all US assistance to the country over the last eight years, while questioning what measures would be implemented to ensure deportees are shielded from abuse.
The cash transfer is part of the Donald Trump administration's wider strategy to persuade other countries to receive deported noncitizens. United Nations (UN) experts have raised concerns that these agreements could allow individuals to be transferred to foreign nations almost immediately, often without proper legal oversight or the chance to appeal on grounds of persecution or torture.
According to reports, the US has contacted more than 50 countries about accepting deportees, using a mix of financial incentives and diplomatic pressure, including threats of travel restrictions. Several of these countries, including Eswatini, South Sudan and El Salvador, have been flagged in US State Department reports for serious human rights abuses.
"Implementing the Trump Administration's immigration policies is a top priority for the Department of State. As Secretary Rubio has said, we remain unwavering in our commitment to end illegal and mass immigration and bolster America's border security," a state department spokesperson told AFP when reached out for comment.
In September, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with Equatorial Guinea's Vice-President Nguema on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, where they discussed strengthening economic and trade relations, tackling illegal immigration and boosting security cooperation.
Following the meeting, Nguema confirmed in October that Equatorial Guinea would work with the US to manage the "orderly reception of undocumented immigrants," in line with strict protocols to ensure the process is safe and coordinated.
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