A video circulating on social media features Roberto Mosquera del Peral, a Cuban national deported by the United States to the African kingdom of Eswatini, as he contemplates his predicament with visible distress from his place of detention.
Seated and gazing at the landscape surrounding him, Mosquera shares his repetitive daily routine as he tries to make sense of how he ended up so far from his life in the U.S.
"What on earth am I doing here in Africa? Explain it to me. Why are we in Africa?" he questions in the video, clearly bewildered.
Mosquera explains that he often sits in contemplation each afternoon, striving to come to terms with his reality. "I sit here every day, looking at this... and I ask myself what I'm doing here," he says, addressing a friend named Félix.
He also criticizes the process that led to his transfer to Africa. Despite expressing respect for U.S. military personnel, he insists the deportation was "illegally" carried out and criticizes the practice of sending migrants from various nationalities to third countries.
"This is wrong... they are deporting Cubans and Vietnamese to other countries for money," he asserts in the video.
Mosquera delves into his family history and connection with the Cuban regime. He recounts that his mother was a political prisoner on the island for 18 months due to her faith as a Jehovah's Witness. He also recalls his family's departure from Cuba in 1980 after seeking refuge in the Peruvian embassy in Havana.
He maintains that returning to Cuba is not an option. "Cuba sent a message saying we had already lost our Cuban citizenship," he states in the recording.
"The United States doesn't want us. Africa says we're not Africans. So, where do we belong?" he laments.
Mosquera was arrested in Miami by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in June 2025. U.S. authorities indicated he had a significant criminal record, including violent offenses.
In July of the same year, he was deported to Eswatini, a small absolute monarchy in southern Africa, as part of the Trump administration's third-country expulsions program for migrants whose home countries refused to accept them.
The decision drew criticism from human rights organizations, which question the legality and conditions of deportees in this African nation.
Mosquera has been detained in the maximum-security prison of Matsapha, near the capital Mbabane. Recently, his family and lawyers have reported that he is in a "legal black hole," with irregular access to legal assistance and limited communication with loved ones.
In October, his lawyer announced that Mosquera had begun a hunger strike to protest his situation and the uncertainty regarding his future.
Understanding the Deportation of Cubans to Africa
Why was Roberto Mosquera deported to Eswatini?
Roberto Mosquera was deported to Eswatini as part of the Trump administration's policy of third-country expulsions for migrants whose home countries refused to accept them back. He had a significant criminal record, including violent offenses.
What are the criticisms of the deportation process to Eswatini?
Human rights organizations have criticized the legality and conditions of deportees in Eswatini, questioning the process and the treatment of migrants sent to third countries.
What challenges has Mosquera faced in Eswatini?
Roberto Mosquera has been detained in a maximum-security prison and is said to be in a "legal black hole," with limited access to legal aid and restricted communication with family members.