Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the safety and welfare of locals living abroad as efforts continue to evacuate more citizens from the Gulf region, amid ongoing airspace disruptions.
In a statement issued yesterday, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu said government teams were actively working to identify safe and practical routes to bring affected locals back home.
The latest update comes as authorities highlight recent progress in repatriation efforts. On March 4, a group of 25 locals was successfully repatriated after being evacuated from the United Arab Emirates.
The evacuation efforts come at a time when airspace closures in parts of the Gulf have complicated travel arrangements, slowing down the repatriation process.
Despite these challenges, the ministry assured the nation that plans to evacuate another group of citizens were already at an advanced stage.
If operational conditions allow and approvals from relevant authorities are secured, the next group of locals is expected to arrive in the country before the end of the week.
“Government remains steadfast in its commitment to the safety, welfare and well-being of all Emaswati abroad,” the minister said.
RELATED | KING’S ORDER: GOVT evacuates 25 Emaswati from UAE
The following day, on March 5, government facilitated the safe return of 13 nationals from the United Arab Emirates who had been in the Eswatini. Further progress was recorded on March 7, when one Liswati national was successfully repatriated from Saudi Arabia, bringing renewed hope to families awaiting the return of their loved ones.
The minister said these efforts were being guided by the directive of His Majesty King Mswati III, who has emphasised the importance of ensuring that every Liswati in distress abroad receives assistance to return home safely.
She further stated that the coordination with host countries and international partners remains ongoing as teams work around logistical and regulatory challenges linked to the current situation in the Gulf region.
Meanwhile, the ministry has called on the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information that could cause unnecessary panic.
Citizens were encouraged to rely only on official updates from government and the relevant authorities in host countries.
As evacuation plans continue to unfold, the government has assured the nation that it would remain fully engaged until all affected locals were safely reunited with their families.
Further updates would be communicated as the situation develops.
The ministry has also thanked the nation for its patience, trust and solidarity during this period.
