Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland and one of the world’s few absolute monarchies, has called for calm and restraint as the largest democratic demonstrations in several years shook the South African kingdom.
Protesters demand democratic reforms and accuse King Mswati III, who has ruled the small mountain nation for more than 30 years as an absolute monarch, of oppression. Rights groups accuse the royal family, including the king’s 15 wives, of having a lavish lifestyle while many of the country’s 1.1 million people live in poverty.
Mbabane, the capital, and Mazini, the largest city, have reportedly been most affected by the protests, which have seen protesters block roads and set fire, often to companies owned or linked to the royal family. Companies, factories and trucks have reportedly also been burned in the industrial city of Matsapha.
The Eswatini government has imposed a curfew every night from 18:00 to 04:00 to try to quell the demonstrations. Photographs and videos on social media show soldiers attacking people believed to be protesters.
Activists have claimed that soldiers and police have killed more than 20 protesters since the protests began this week, but this has not been confirmed by police, government officials or medical staff.
Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku claimed that the legitimate protests had been “hijacked by criminal elements.”
In a statement on Thursday, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation said it noted “with great concern the current political and security situation” in Eswatini. The right to peaceful protest is widely recognized, said spokesman Clayson Monyela. He called on Eswatini’s security forces to “exercise total restraint and protect people’s lives and property.”
Protesters are calling for reforms that include lifting bans on opposition political parties, which have been banned since 1973.
Sonke Dube, chair of the Swaziland Youth Congress, which is involved in the demonstrations, called on the UN, the 16-nation South African Development Community and the African Union to intervene.
“We urge you to call Mswati to order. Isolate him from the community of peace-loving nations. Impose sanctions on him and his immediate family and comrades until we have a people’s government in Swaziland,” Dube said in a statement.
South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC), which has historical ties to Swaziland that extends from the country’s support for its liberation struggle, has criticized the government for violence against protesters. “The use of security forces to quell political disagreements and the failure to address legitimate civilian issues complicates the conflict and fuels the fire,” said Lindiwe Zulu, ANC’s head of international relations.
The US State Department on Thursday upgraded its travel warning for Eswatini to warn Americans against all travel to the country and announced that they would allow non-important US diplomats and their families to leave due to the deteriorating security situation there.
“Eswatini is experiencing dangerous unrest and protests across the country,” the department said, noting the introduction of curfews, the closure of the international airport and communication disruptions. A day earlier, the department called on the Eswatini authorities to “exercise restraint and also maintain the utmost respect for human rights.”
“As the situation continues to evolve, the United States urges all stakeholders in this situation to not only remain calm but also remain peaceful,” Deputy Spokeswoman Jalina Porter told reporters Wednesday.
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