Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu met with the United Kingdom Minister of State for Border Security and Asylum Anna Turley to discuss areas of cooperation between the two countries on border security and asylum.
The meeting focused on strengthening partnership, sharing experience and building practical cooperation in managing migration in a fair, orderly and secure manner.
The Kingdom of Eswatini is seeing an increase in the number of refugees and asylum seekers.
While the kingdom remains committed to its international obligations and to offering protection to those genuinely in need, Government is determined to strengthen laws, policies, systems, and controls to ensure that the situation is managed proactively and does not escalate out of control, as has been seen in other countries.
The discussions explored how Eswatini and the United Kingdom can work together to strengthen border management, improve refugee and asylum processes, combat human trafficking and smuggling, enhance information sharing and build institutional capacity.
Eswatini values its longstanding friendship with the United Kingdom and looks forward to deepening cooperation that protects borders, upholds human dignity, and safeguards national security.
Minister Turley also took Senator Shakatu for a tour of the UK Parliament where she had the opportunity to sit and watch proceedings in the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
