MBABANE – The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini has said the country will not be coerced, disadvantaged or destabilised on account of the lawful exercise of its sovereignty.
Government has said this in reaction to an advisory made by the Republic of China advising its citizens to leave the kingdom over security risks.
In a statement issued by Acting Spokesperson, Thabile Mdluli, the Government of Eswatini rejected concerns raised by the People’s Republic of China over the safety and security of Chinese nationals, describing suggestions that Eswatini poses an exceptional or generalised security risk as unsupported.
Mdluli said the Eswatini Government had taken note of a travel advisory issued by the Chinese Government concerning its nationals in the kingdom.
Mdluli acknowledged China’s sovereign right to provide consular guidance to its citizens, but said Eswatini regretted any suggestion that the country was generally unsafe.
“The kingdom respects the sovereign right of every State to issue consular guidance to its citizens,” the government said, while maintaining that any portrayal of Eswatini as presenting an exceptional or widespread security threat was not supported by the facts on the ground.
Mdluli said the recent law enforcement operation involving foreign nationals, mostly of Chinese nationality, arose from suspected organised cyber-related criminal activity.
She said the operation was detected, disrupted and subjected to due process under Eswatini law.
“Far from demonstrating a failure of public security, it affirms the vigilance and effectiveness of the kingdom’s law enforcement institutions,” she said.
Also, she explained that Eswatini remains a peaceful, stable and law-governed State, in which citizens, residents and visitors of all nationalities enjoy the protection of the Constitution and the law.
“Government, therefore, rejects any attempt to portray an isolated criminal operation as evidence that the kingdom is a centre of systemic criminality or cybercrime,” said Mdluli.
She further reaffirmed that the Kingdom of Eswatini’s foreign policy and diplomatic relations are matters of sovereign national determination.
“As a peaceful nation and member of the Non-Aligned Movement, Eswatini seeks friendship with all and enmity with none.
“The kingdom remains open to constructive international engagement founded upon sovereign equality, mutual respect and non-interference,” the statement highlighted.
As reported by Chinese media, the Republic of China Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian was quoted saying that the Chinese Government has issued a travel advisory following a cautious assessment to ensure the safety of its citizens.
China ‘will take necessary measures to safeguard the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens overseas,’ Jian was quoted during a riefing in Beijing.
He mentioned that telecommunications fraud and online gambling are currently rampant in Eswatini, and risks related to public order and safety are extremely high.
Jian was challenged by Bloomberg to respond to reports that Chinese authorities had urged Chinese citizens in Eswatini to evacuate, and urged others not to visit Eswatini, citing local security and scamming concerns.
“Can you elaborate a little bit on some of the thinking behind this advisory? Could you also tell me how many Chinese citizens roughly live in Eswatini?” Jian was asked.
In response he said: “Eswatini is faced with a complex security situation with rampant telecom fraud and online gambling and extremely high safety risks.
“Issuing travel advisories is a common practice worldwide. Committed to a people-centred approach and diplomacy for the people, we will do everything necessary to safeguard the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens overseas”.
Bloomberg also asked Jian if he would be able to give some examples of other similar travel advisories that China has issued, specifically regarding scamming and related risks?
Also, Bloomberg brought it to Jian’s attention that China does not have diplomatic relations with Eswatini and whether such was a factor in the latest advisory or was unrelated.
In response, Jian said: “We have issued similar advisories. For this one, I need to stress that given the extremely high safety risks and rampant telecom fraud and online gambling in Eswatini, the Chinese Government, for the safety of Chinese nationals, issued the travel advisory after prudent evaluation”.
The latest developments come at a time when a recent sweeping crackdown on illegal online gambling operations in Eswatini exposed a sophisticated transnational cybercrime network, with more than 200 suspects arrested and several linked to the Interpol red notice list.
The arrests, carried out by the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs, have sent shockwaves through the region.
The investigation has received international recognition after intelligence from the case contributed to wider arrests under INTERPOL’s Operation First Light 2026.
Eswatini’s crackdown on an alleged illegal online gambling syndicate has gained international recognition after INTERPOL highlighted the case as part of Operation First Light 2026, a global campaign against cyber-enabled fraud and related money laundering.
According to INTERPOL, police in Eswatini dismantled a criminal network suspected of running illegal online gambling, money laundering and sophisticated impersonation scams.
The operation led to the arrest of 82 suspects and the seizure of 240 electronic devices, foreign currency and equipment allegedly used in the criminal operation.
One of the most striking discoveries was a realistic replica of a Brazilian police station, complete with fake uniforms, signage and equipment.
Investigators believe the setup was used as part of impersonation scams in which victims were deceived into believing they were dealing with law enforcement officials.
The Eswatini case formed part of Operation First Light 2026, which ran across 97 countries and territories.
Globally, the operation resulted in 5 811 arrests, the interception of around US$293 million in illicit assets, the blocking of more than 31 000 bank accounts and the identification of over 142 000 victims of cyber-enabled financial crime.
The case highlights how illegal gambling investigations are increasingly connected to wider financial crime. What may initially appear to be an online betting operation can involve money laundering, identity fraud, cyber scams, cross-border payments and organised criminal networks targeting victims in multiple countries.
Authorities in Eswatini have said the investigation is continuing, with digital evidence still being analysed to determine the full scale of the network and identify remaining international links.
Given the amount of seized equipment and the transnational nature of the alleged activity, further findings may emerge as forensic work progresses.
Foreign media and experts have said for Eswatini, the recognition is significant.
It was said the country is positioning itself as an active partner in international enforcement against illegal gambling and cyber-enabled fraud, rather than only a local jurisdiction affected by foreign criminal networks.
“The case also sends a clear message to operators and regulators across Africa. Illegal online gambling is no longer just a licensing issue. It is increasingly being treated as part of a broader financial crime ecosystem involving payment flows, digital infrastructure, fake identities and international fraud networks,” one of the foreign media houses reported.
It was highlighted that if the investigation leads to stronger cooperation between gaming regulators, police, financial intelligence units and international bodies, Eswatini’s case could become a reference point for how smaller jurisdictions can contribute meaningfully to global enforcement.
The recognition from INTERPOL shows that effective local intelligence can have consequences far beyond national borders.
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