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On August 25, 2026, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an urgent security alert, advising all Chinese citizens against traveling to Eswatini and urging those already in the country to evacuate as soon as possible.

The advisory, published via the "Consular Affairs" WeChat official account, cited the complex security situation in Eswatini, where telecom fraud and online gambling crimes have become rampant, posing extremely high social and security risks. The Ministry, in coordination with the Chinese Embassy in South Africa and its consulates in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, strongly recommends that Chinese nationals and institutions in Eswatini evacuate or relocate to relatively safer areas, such as South Africa.

The warning emphasizes that those who choose to stay or travel to Eswatini despite the advisory will face extreme security risks, which may also affect the timeliness of any consular assistance they might receive.

For consular protection and assistance in emergencies, Chinese citizens are advised to contact the following:

  • Chinese Embassy in South Africa: 0027-10-4925583
  • Chinese Consulate-General in Johannesburg: 0027-10-4986234
  • Chinese Consulate-General in Cape Town: 0027-21-6747668
  • Chinese Consulate-General in Durban: 0027-761742938
  • Global Emergency Call Center (24/7): +86-10-12308 / +86-10-65612308

Eswatini is the only country in Africa that has not established diplomatic relations with China and maintains official ties with Taiwan. This advisory was issued amidst growing concerns over the country's deteriorating law and order situation.