Beijing has warned its citizens to leave Eswatini, citing security concerns in a move that also puts fresh focus on the country’s diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
China’s foreign ministry has issued a stark advisory for its citizens to leave the southern African kingdom of Eswatini as soon as possible. The official reason cited is “security risks,” pointing to rampant cyber fraud and criminal activities tied to gambling.
But the timing tells a different, more familiar story.
Eswatini holds a unique and precarious position on the map. It is the only country in Africa that still maintains formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, a territory Beijing firmly claims as its own. For years, China has steadily pressured nations across the continent to sever those exact ties.
The friction on the ground is already visible. According to local reports from the Times of Eswatini, around 40 Chinese nationals have been held in detention since last month. They were initially swept up in March during police raids on alleged illegal online gambling centers in the capital city, Mbabane.
Lawyers for the detained group argue the situation has now turned unlawful. They stated their clients already pleaded guilty to minor immigration offenses, paid their court fines, and were ordered released by the High Court, only to be re-arrested shortly after. The Eswatini government has not publicly commented on the detentions.
Meanwhile, the diplomatic squeeze continues in plain sight. Earlier this year, Beijing conveniently scrapped import tariffs for every single African country, except one: Eswatini.
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And when Taiwan’s president attempted to visit the kingdom in April to mark a royal anniversary, neighboring countries suddenly revoked overflight permits, forcing a delay. Beijing later dismissed the eventual May visit, calling the Taiwanese leader an “international laughing stock.”
Now, with Chinese citizens explicitly told to relocate to “relatively safer” neighbors like South Africa, the subtext is clear. The pressure is not going away, and the room for Eswatini to maneuver is quietly shrinking.
Promise Idoko is a tech analyst and writer at Moderncrux, specializing in artificial intelligence, fintech, and emerging technologies. Based in Nigeria, he is dedicated to delivering insightful and accessible coverage of complex technological developments. His work explores the impact of innovation on businesses, industries, and societies, with a particular focus on Africa’s evolving technology landscape and its connection to global trends.
